It’s another fun week of the Finnick Odair fantasy casting collaboration among the fansites. This week, meet Garrett Hedlund. If you have seen Troy, TRON, Country Strong or Eragon then you know who he is.
Arianna: Although he never crossed my mind before, when someone mentioned Garrett Hedlund as a possible Finnick, I immediately got on board. He’s extremely good looking for starters. He has the cockiness Finnick has, yet I believe he would be able to play the more emotional parts of Finnick’s character flawlessly. He has proved that he can act, especially in movies such as Tron and Eragon. All in all, Garrett is definitely one of my top five Finnick contenders.
Savanna: I get the “Finnick appeal” of Garrett Hedlund — he’s the right age, tall, green-eyed, handsome, and full of what can only be described as “swagger.” He’s a decent actor (I’ve only seen him in TRON), and he could probably handle this role. However, like some of the other Finnick candidates we’ve discussed, I don’t think he’s beautiful ENOUGH. He’s less of an Adonis and more of a James Dean (which isn’t a BAD thing). Adam: I could definitely see Garrett Hedlund actually being cast as Finnick, which is more than enough reason to take him seriously. That being said, I don’t know if I can take him seriously. I thought he was a fine Sam Flynn in TRON, but does he possess the range and versatility to play Finnick? Finnick is stunningly good-looking, yes, but he also proves to be quite brainy and articulate. Could Hedlund seduce women with Shakespeare? In my mind Finnick Odair can do anything, which is why Hedlund — though an adequate choice — is not the best one.
Lindsay: I’ve seen Garrett Hedlund in a few movies, but I only remember Country Strong. I didn’t know who he was before I watched that one. Garrett certainly has the charm and looks required for Finnick. Can I see him teasing Katniss over her purity? Most definitely! However, Garrett does not (as of the last time I saw him shirtless) have the body I imagine for Finnick. He could most definitely achieve the desired muscle tone before filming begins, however. He gets my thumbs up to at least be considered!
Elena: The first thing I think about when picturing Finnick Odair is that he’s drop dead gorgeous. The first thing I think about when picturing Garrett Hedlund is that he’s drop dead gorgeous. And I know this to be true because I’ve seen him. In person. In fact, he sat behind me at a movie last Summer during the LA Film Festival. And he was gorgeous. But he’s also kind and generous. Just as I picture Finnick, particularly with Annie. Garrett Hedlund oozes talent in all of his roles and I think he would breathe life into Finnick Odair in a way that no other actor could. We’ve seen him slaying Trojans in ‘Troy’. We’ve seen him be caring and compassionate in ‘Country Strong’. There’s no doubt in my mind that Garrett is Finnick Odair.
Lee: While Garrett Hedlund has done some physically demanding roles such as the TRON reboot last year, Eragon and the film version of Friday Night Lights, most of his recent work has been more character driven. We have yet to see Garrett as Dean Moriarty in On The Road, an iconic flawed hero of the classic Jack Kerouac novel and a role that could be really telling of his ability to play Finnick. His most recent portrayals have been more internal than external, which is perfect for Finnick since we know there is a lot more going on behind his pretty face than we’re originally led to believe. Speaking of pretty faces, while Garrett is certainly ruggedly handsome, he doesn’t really have the pretty boy image I’ve usually pictured Finnick.
Tanvi: Okay, I’ll admit: Garrett Hedlund for Finnick felt a little wacky to me. His name had never even remotely crossed my mind. Not that I don’t like him or anything – au contraire, I love Garrett! But he just seems a little older for Finnick. On the plus side, I’m reassured that this guy can act and we’ve seen more of his work than any of our other discussions so far. He’s played Murtagh in Eragon AND Patroclus in Troy – both my personal favorites. And he can look equally comfortable in various attires – TRON, another example. He’s got a charming personality as well. Overall, if he was cast as Finnick Odair, I wouldn’t exactly be complaining.
Crystal: Out of everyone, Garrett Hedlund is without a doubt my favorite casting choice. He’s got a fantastic cocky demeanor, is very handsome, and yet can also play the drama part. I loved him in TRON Legacy. Sure, he’s a little bit older than the “real” Finnick, but I still think he’d fit with his youthful face and his utterly gorgeous smile. I can understand when people say he doesn’t look handsome enough for Finnick, but I think a lot of the appeal of a man has to do with the aura he carries around and I can just see Finnick in him. I do also like that he’s 27, because he’s finally someone I can oogle over. Josh seems like a really sweet kid, but I’ve never been comfortable with any of the 74th Hunger Games tributes as eye candy simply because they’re too young for me. Haha!
Tffany: In 2004, the movie Troy was in theaters. When my friends and I walked out of the movie theater, instead of swooning over a practically naked Brad Pitt, we were all wondering who played Patroclus. Turns out it was Garrett Hedlund, and since then, I’ve been a fan of his. When I first saw him as a fancasting for Finnick, I thought, “That’s it!” His brand of handsome is different enough where it’s interesting and almost otherworldly and untouchable. I always pictured Finnick as having a kind of merman-like look to him (whatever that is), and I could see Garrett as that. There is something about him that projects a “bad boy” charm that Finnick has at least on the surface, where it’s easy to believe as Katniss does that he really has a string of Capitol lovers. Despite being in some bad movies, his performance in Country Strong has shown that he can do critically acclaimed and play vulernable. His work on Troy and Tron: Legacy (one of my favorite movies, honestly) has proven that he can do action and fight-to-the-death scenes. And I can’t wait to see him as Dean Moriarty in the film adaptation for On the Road, which boasts an impressive cast and director. Although it would be a bit of a leap of faith, I would love to see Garrett as Finnick.
What do you think of Garrett Hedlund as Finnick? Let us know in the comments!
Be on the lookout for next week’s Finding Finnick Odair, were we will discuss Jake Abel. Jake has starred in movies such as Percy Jackson, I Am Number Four, and The Lovely Bones.
YES!!!!!