Paula Malcomson Joins ‘The Hunger Games’

Lionsgate continues to cleverly announce just a bit of casting news for The Hunger Games at a time. The heavily-anticipated adaptation has made headlines almost (literally) every day this week, as it continue to cast primarily either novices or up-and-comers as the participants in the titular competition – with bigger names like Elizabeth Banks circling supporting roles in the film.

Today’s casting news concerns the character of Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Prim (Willow Shields) Everdeen’s mom – a part that will be filled by popular television actress Paula Malcomson.

Malcomson may not be a huge name, but chances are good that if you’re a regular TV viewer, then you’ll recognize her face from one place or another. She’s played significant roles on shows like Caprica, The Event, Sons of Anarchy, ER, and the David Milch-created HBO series John from Cincinnati and Deadwood. The actress has also made memorable appearances on Fringe and Lost – and her resume includes one-episode stints on shows ranging from Private Practice to NYPD Blue.

Heat Vision has the scoop on Malcomson signing up for the dystopian tale of The Hunger Games, where she’ll play the widowed Mrs. Everdeen – a woman terrified by the prospect that her children will be forced to “play” in the titular event. That’s understandable, seeing as how The Hunger Games is a gladiator-style competition in which adolescents must fight one another to the death – so as to demonstrate the strength of the ruling Capitol and “win” supplies for the respective District they hale from.

I admit to personally being a fan of Malcomson (her turn as Trixie on Deadwood is my favorite). More important, for fans of the Hunger Games novel and/or those unfamiliar with Malcomson’s work as an actress, she’s the proper age and has the looks to be convincing as the mother of both Lawrence and Shields. We’ve already gone over the fact that Lawrence doesn’t really resemble Katniss, as described in the book, so best to move on – and not keep harping on that point.

To reiterate: the confirmed cast assembled under director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) for Hunger Games includes the following:

• District 12 members (and the story’s protagonists) Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson)
• District 11 members Thresh and Rue (Dayo Okeniyi and Amandla Stenberg)
• District One pair Marvel and Glimmer (Jake Quaid and Leven Rambin)
• Liam Hemsworth (brother of Thor‘s Chris Hemsworth) as Gale Hawthorne, a good friend of Katniss and (sort of) Peeta’s competition for her romantic interest.

The Hunger Games arrives in theaters on March 23rd, 2012. How’s it looking to you so far?

Source: THR