John C. Reilly in Talks to Join 'Hunger Games'

By Moviefone Editors Posted Apr 25th 2011 07:33AM

Looks like 'The Hunger Games' has replaced Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit' as the Net film topic buzz du dour. Now funnyman John C. Reilly can potentially be added to the growing cast list along with several other recently-announced additions.

On Friday, Paula Malcomson ('Caprica') was cast to play Mrs. Everdeen, mother of Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Prim (Willow Shields), two of the main characters in the Gary Ross adaptation of Suzanne Collins' sprawling post-apocalyptic novels. She was added to a list that already included, in addition to Lawrence and Shields, Elizabeth Banks, Leven Rambin, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Amandla Stenberg and Dayo Okeniyi.

That led the folks over at SlashFilm to put together a list of roles that need to be cast and the stars they felt could fill those shoes. And then SlashFilm reported a rumor from Vulture that John C. Reilly is in talks to play Haymitch Abernathy, one of the most important roles in the film -- the drunken, former winner of the Hunger Games who helps to train Katniss and Peeta (Hutcherson) for the games.

You can check out their list here -- but before you do, here's a refresher on the plot line:

The story takes place in the not-too-distant future, when the U.S. has collapsed and has been replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. To keep the subjugated citizens entertained, each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in the brutal Hunger Games, which are broadcast throughout the country, with all citizens required to watch. The first book in Collins' series follows the adventures of two contestants -- Katniss and Peeta -- as they become gladiators in the futuristic reality show.

The film is set to open March 23, 2012, and we can bet that we'll be in store for tons more rumors, plenty of Tweets, and scores of videos and photos from the set before that date.

Let the games begin (or continue).

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