Catching Fire comes out next month, and I feel like I should be way more pumped about this sequel. The trailer was quite serviceable, but I’m just not mentally there yet. Oh well, the promotion shall go on. Sam Claflin appears in the November issues of Elle UK and Nylon Guys to promote his role as the devastatingly charming and tragic Finnick Odair. Even on this site, the reaction to Claflin’s casting has been mixed but mostly negative. I honestly believe that Suzanne Collins character is so larger than life that no one could possibly fill Finnick’s strategically placed fishnet. Claflin will try, but I think people are still going to give him a hard time. Here’s some excerpts from Sam’s Nylon interview. Nice … hose:
On shaping up for Finnick: “I’ll be honest, I let myself go at Christmas. By the time January came around and I’d insisted that I would get back in the gym, I kind of went, ‘You know what? I’m gonna enjoy myself for at least a few months more.’ That unfortunately turned into eight months. You have to compete with actors who are in absolutely pristine condition physically. I did a job with Chris Hemsworth, and we were both standing on set and he had to change thirsts. He took it off and was like, ‘Mate, do you mind holding that for me?’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God, I want to be you.'”
He’s not method: “I’m one of those people who, the moment they say, ‘Cut,’ I go back to being Sam. Take Finnick Odair, for example: I’m not one to continue my American accent when i go hom. I’m kind of happy being who I am, and I guess I’ve learned form the best — like Jennifer Lawrence, who can literally be joking with you on the Hunger Games set until the moment they say, ‘Action,’ then cry on the spot. She’s just phenomenal to watch, and that’s the way I want to work. The idea of shutting the world off and becoming someone new. God, I don’t know how my wife would live with that! It would be like being married to a different person every week.”
On his Instagram imposter: “That’s the scary side of the fan appreciation. Some people get a little obsessed. Although she — or he — sent me a lovely apology saying, ‘I’m sorry, I was bored.’ I watched Catfish, and it’s intriguing what those people on the other side go through.”
[From Nylon Guys]
That’s so funny about how he wanted to have Chris Hemsworth’s chest while the filmed SWATH. I think most guys who meet Hemsworth feel the same way. You know, I watched that movie (which was awful all around) and see that Claflin played Snow White’s brother, but I can’t remember his performance at all. Was he remarkable?
Poor Sam — this is his Elle UK spread, and they zeroed right in on his pants problem.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes video from the Elle UK shoot. He sure is charming and has the cutest dimples and cupid lips.
Plus the rest of the Nylon editorial.
Photos courtesy of Nylon Guys & Elle UK
I like the top photo.
And he looks cute hugging the . . . palm tree? It’s like he’s not quite sure what to do with himself.
He’s goint to be an awful Finnick, I just know it. How I wish they would have cast Garrett Hedlund… 🙁
I pictured Finnick as Ian Somerhalder.
i think Jesse Williams would’ve made perfect Finnick. those eyes… 🙂
I’m digging him in the yellow coat photo. Yeah, I’d hit that. And then we’d lay in each other’s arms, discussing how gorgeous Hemsworth is. I mean, who WOULDNT want to have his chest? Granted, I’d want to have it next to me…
And when I am laying in bed, wrapped around Chris Hemsworth’s naked chest, we will discuss how cute you and Sam are together.
Actually I think Sam is a doll and would be happy to work in some sort of rotation with you.
I can live with that 🙂 He really is cute. And his crush on Hems was so obvious during the SWATH promos. That makes me happy (and Hiddles piddling himself w jealousy and need for attention).
PS – I replied to the threat yesterday but my comment didnt save 🙁
PPS – I cannot wait to watch the Graham Norton interview!!!
He’s cute, but why are his pants so tight in that one photo? Or am I just imagining that?
I don’t mean to be rude, but do enough people know who he is to have a “fan problem”?
I think it was more of a Hunger Games fan problem, not a Sam Claflin fan problem.
He was GREAT in White Heat on the BBC a couple of years back, btw. I’m pretending he didn’t go anywhere near that Snow White nonsense.
It sounds like it was just one fan.
Even small fandoms have always a couple of too obsessive fans.
The only fandom I was really a part of was Interpol, and even Paul Banks had a few imposters.
I think it’s more of a Hunger Games fandom – and its spillover effect. Which is more negative than anything.
Sometimes the really small fandoms can be the craziest. I think it’s easier for people to get over-involved when they really are someone’s no.1 fan.
I liked SWATH. It wasn’t perfect but visually it looked amazing. And he didn’t play her brother – he played her childhood sweetheart!
IMO the director ruined the film. He was crazy about good pictures and forgot the characters. The effects were super, but the script was s*hit. No good dialogues, no real background stories. The “Prince” was useless. The Queen and the huntsman needed way more story. I know people here love to bash Stewart, but i think she did her best playing a neglected child in the body of a weak young woman without good lines.
Typically the focus was on the visual parts and not on the figures.
I agree. That script was desperate for some decent dialogue. There were so many long stretches of people wandering around, saying nothing. The film had possibilities, but the script was weak. And the director seemed more intent on showing off his special effects skills than telling a story. It was a mistake to put a rookie director on a potentially big franchise.
I do look forward to seeing what Sam can do in Catching Fire.
Ditto to SuSu & Another Ann’s comments.
On the bright side, Sam is married. I find that fangirls are a little less intense toward people they know they truly cant have.
I like him….he seems very sweet and I’m a sucker for for dimples!. I think he’ll make a great Finnick. Thete were people who who were skeptical that Jennifer Lawrence would be a great Katniss and she nailed it. The fans just have to give Claflin a chance.
@Sile, I COMPLETELY agree.
I really dislike that people are dismissing him as Finnick Odair already. For goodness’ sake, the film hasn’t even been released yet! At least give him the benefit of your doubt and refrain from passing judgement until you’ve actually seen it.
I’ve seen him in various productions before and he gave some great performances.
@MisJes: Absolutely!.
I predict this movie to have a huge, huge drop off in revenue. Still profitable enough by far to justify all the sequels, but a big enough drop to show that the first hunger games movie was media driven hype, the type that helped 50 shades sell 70 million copies worldwide.
Not likely. I know several people who haven’t even read the books who are looking forward to this movie.
That’s what everyone said about the Narnia series. First one made 700 million and the 2nd and 3rd ones only made 400 million.
Hunger games beat harry potter domestically….it’s not going to repeat near that. The reason the first movie was such a success was because of the unbelievable domestic take. Usually big films make along the lines of 65/35 foreign/domestic, but hunger games was like 65/35 domestic/foreign.
The foreign numbers will probably drop as they’ve done for HP (only went back up for Deathly Hallows really) and US definitely will drop.
@EmmaV1: The Narnia chronicles is not a fair comparison. TNC featured a cast of unknowns who, unfortunately, had zero charisma individually and collectively. The supporting actors were meh and the story itself does not translate well from page to screen.
Jennifer Lawrence is the reigning Best Actress winner, quite beloved, and has charisma to spare. THG: CF now has Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amanda Plummer, Jenna Malone just to name a few to the roster. The story itself resonates with a lot people today (the world is headed towards a Hunger Games type of existence, etc.,) so it feels timely. Predictions for B.O. both foreign and domestic have been extremely strong. I don’t believe that there will be a huge drop off at all.
I agree.
Jennifer Lawrence is a unique hybrid of Oscar winner/fan favorite. If the previous commentor was using “hype” to mean that the excitement was just a fad…that doesn’t seem to be the case considering how many people are anxious over Finnick. I think people sincerely love this book series, and I think many other people sincerely love Jennifer Lawrence. It is a pretty powerful combo!
(Don’t forget Julianne Moore is also going to be in the last two movies!).
He’s so handsome. I loved him in Pillars of the Earth. He played a warrior knight, and he was really really good. Finnick will be a breeze for him.
Yes. Loved him in POTR. I think he can really bring it as the charming philanderer hiding the traumatized boy.
And Bedhead, he wasn’t Snow White’s brother. He was her best friend, and supposed “true love.”
Oh crap, those are Robin Thick pants. Please tell me they aren’t a big deal now.
…
I’ve never heard of him until now. Very nice looking guy.
Never heard of him before
You can also see him in the pretty horrible third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean. He plays the preacher who falls in love with a mermaid.
He’s not what I pictured At ALL for Finnick, he simply lacks the ability to be physically imposing/stunning in an Adonis-like way. He’s an ok actor but nothing so magnificent to justify going so physically against type. I think they made a lot of bad casting decisions in the second film. I’m really not pumped for it at all. Side note: why are there so many spelling & caps errors in that excerpt?
I’m more upset about the poor casting choices they made in the first film. Josh Hutcherson is absolutely horrible as Peeta. He almost ruins the movie for me. Ditto Woody Harrelson, who I was actually excited about.
I’m reserving judgment on Julianne Moore as President Coin. She is an amazing actress. No doubt about that. She’s just not at all what I pictured for President Coin. Kathy Bates is more a President Coin. She is imposing. Moore is Paylor.
Step back on Woody Harrelson. He’s Haymitch personified. I picture Coin as tight-faced and bitchy, which I think is more Julianne Moore than Cathy Bates. I figured it was the HBO portrayal of Sarah Palin that got JM’s name mentioned as Coin.
I noticed all the errors too. *scratches head*
No clue but it’s not the first excerpt to be littered with errors. Although it seemed to have more than normal.
LOL. That’s going to be my new excuse for everything I do- no matter how naughty, “I’m sorry, I was bored.”
I’m very excited for Catching Fire. The fact that there are several talented people involved in making the film ( I can’t wait to see Jennifer Lawrence and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the same film together!!). I love the story and it’s got a great cast, that gives me a happy.
Seriously, any other movie released in Nov with PSH, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson & JLaw would be screaming Oscar.
If he thinks they’re a little obsessive now, he better prepare himself for them being batshit crazy when the movie is actually released.
But isn’t that what they said would happen with Liam H and Josh H? Seems more of an attempt to build hype. I am sure there are a select group of obsessive fans, but certainly not reaching Twilight level-weirdness. I would be surprised if Sam Claflin pulls in that kind of attention.
I should have clarified-I agree that it won’t be Twilight level cray cray, but once the movie opens the intensity of the obsession will increase because people will have the visual to go along with their fantasy.
I don’t know. Finnick was my favorite character of the series, and I can’t be the only one. Peeta was horribly miscast, and Josh H is taking the brunt of that. Hemsworth doesn’t have much screen time, and I ended up not liking Gale by the end of the series. If Claflin pulls this off, I think this could be really big for him.
I don’t know about his acting and I don’t know if he’ll make a good Finnick, but I just LIKE him so much. He seems so adorable and down to earth in every interview I’ve read of him. Plus he’s pretty to look at. I wish him the best.
He is soooo not Finnick. Worst casting choice CF made. Otherwise I can’t wait for CF
Top photo and the 2nd last, very hot!
I’d like to see Sam in action as Finnick before I declare him good or bad casting. That being said, I have considered most of the actors for the first movie close but not quite casting…the only characters and actors that seemed to perfectly match their parts were the young lady who played Rue, Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson. I think the cast overall did well in the first movie but those were the actors who I felt were perfect for their parts.
Back to Sam, I did see him in a SyFy movie with Sean Bean and given the nature of the movie, he was decent. I saw in the last Pirates movie where he was saddled with a nonsensical character and I thought he did the best with what he was given. He seems like a really nice guy and I want to see how he brings Finnick to life.
Agreed w/ HG analysis!
I feel like most of the casting for the Hunger Games franchise has been off, including the casting of Finnick. Peeta is supposed to be relatively muscular from carting around bread–and they pick Josh Hutcherson? Who looks like a twinky little princess? And Jennifer Lawrence–who I admittedly adore and find to be flawless and perfect and amazing–doesn’t exactly conform to the aesthetic of Katniss as depicted in the books.
He’s very handsome and seems really sweet. I must admit I was a little dissapointed about his casting at first, but now I’m rooting for him, I’m sure he’ll be a great Finnick!
He’s cute and seems very nice, but the Finnick character is defined by his looks and the effect they have on people, and I just don’t see it with Claflin. The role requires presence.
Armie Hammer or Garrett Hedlund would be my ideal castings
Don’t know why people think there will be a big drop off. First film was very successful, and the book series was huge. Jennifer Lawrence is a big draw, and there are many other big name actors joining the franchise here (Jilianne Moore, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, etc.)
I’d imagine the marketing push is about to swing into full gear. As long as reviews are decent, this film should do as well as the first.
Well … he is playing a character whose life was ruined by fan obsession.
Who?