Hutcherson, Hemsworth join 'The Hunger Games'

The main cast for the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" is coming together with the announcement that Josh Hutcherson ("Bridge to Terabithia") will be playing Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth ("The Last Song") will be Gale Hawthorne.

The pair join Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone"), who has already been cast in the lead role of Katniss Everdeen.

The trilogy of novels follows 16-year-old Katniss as she enters the Hunger Games, an annual event in which two children from each of the 12 districts of Panem are chosen to fight to the death for the Capital. Gale is her longtime friend and hunting partner, while Peeta is her counterpart also chosen from District 12 to play in the games.

Gary Ross ("Seabiscuit," "Pleasantville") is directing the adaptation with a screenplay from Billy Ray ("Flightplan," "State of Play").

Anytime you have a high-profile adaptation such as this, you're going to have controversies. Lawrence's casting sparked online outrage over everything from her hair color to her age, so much so that Collins came out and publicly supported the actress.

Now for round two.

I actually had Hutcherson on my shortlist for Peeta even though he doesn't have the blond hair the character sports in the books. I haven't seen "The Kids Are All Right," but based on work in "Bridge to Terabithia" and "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," I can see him being both the quite, reserved Peeta we first meet as well as the boy who can charm a nation with his words.

From what little I've perused the net on this, I seem to be in the majority in that opinion.

Hemsworth, however, is not feeling the love. Can't say I saw "The Last Song," so I don't have much to base an opinion of his acting chops. As far as his appearance, he's blond rather than dark-haired and seems a bit to thick to play the poor and malnourished Gale.

As usual, I'll reserve judgment until I actually see the movie.