FIRST LOOK: Gale and Peeta in ‘The Hunger Games’!

By Andrew Sims (@Sims) at 1:45 pm, July 27, 2011

Entertainment Weekly has the first look at Gale and Peeta in Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games!

We’ll be sure to let you know what else is included in the issue which hits newsstands Friday.

So, are you impressed with how the two characters look?

You may remember that Entertainment Weekly had the first look at Katniss a couple of months ago.

UPDATE: Entertainment Weekly released a preview of their ‘Men of The Hunger Games’ article:

We sat down wth Josh Hutcherson, the 18-year-old actor whom director Gary Ross fought hard to cast as the deeply decent Peeta Mellark, at a cozy diner in Asheville, N.C., where The Hunger Games shoot was mid-way through filming. His hair was dyed blonde; his newly pumped-up biceps could believably belong to that of a baker’s son. And while Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) understands fans’ hand-wringing online, he’s here to assure you that Lawrence will not in fact tower over him on screen. “Jennifer’s not two feet taller than me!” he says with his easy laugh. “If anything, maybe she’s a half inch taller.” And Ross assures devotees of the books that 21-year-old Liam Hemsworth, who’ll play Katniss’ righteous childhood confidante Gale, is more than just some Australian beefcake who starred in Miley Cyrus’ last movie. “On first glance he’s such a hunk that it’s easy to just sort of ascribe a hunk-like simplicity to him,” says the director. “But this is a phenomenally subtle actor.”

Although Peeta and Gale circle each other warily throughout the series, it turns out that Hutcherson and Hemsworth bonded hard during their six weeks together on set. So much so that Hutcherson brought Hemsworth along on a weekend visit to his hometown in Kentucky to relax with his family and sample his grandmother’s famous fried chicken. “I think it’s going to blow people’s minds when they see that Peeta and Gale are actually best friends in real life,” says Hutcherson.

View the latest articles in: The Hunger Games

Rose

love the way gale looks, hate the way peeta looks.
- Rene
  
  I agree. Liam really interprets how i pictured Gale. But Josh as Gale? i thought he was good choice, still do, but in this picture he looks very off. But we’ll see.
- Rene
  
  I agree completely. Liam really interprets how i pictured Gale. But Josh as Peeta? Not so much. I thought Josh was a good choice for Peeta, still do, but in this still he looks a bit off. Not the right look. But we’ll see in the final film.
- Mermaid
  
  I agree 100%.
Tara151

Hot!!! Pretty close to what I had imagined but with Gale scrawnier.
http://twitter.com/lilleborg Ingeborg

Looks terrible… Neither of them look especially starved or poor!
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-Anderson/100000423743602 Jason Anderson
  
  ….
- http://twitter.com/chittycoopcoop Courtney Cooper
  
  starved or poor? geeez.
  Peeta should look neither starved or poor because he lives in a bakery and comes from a not-so-poor family by District 12 standards. Gale works daily in a mine so he should be in decent shape, plus he catches his own food so he rarely goes starving.
  PLUS it’s going to be a hollywood action movie – were you expecting them to look like Christian Bale in The Machinist or something? LOL
  - Guest
    
    peeta still comes from district 12 though, and is poor like everyone else but still muscular. plus he is not suppose to eat the bread. i read that somewhere. gale has not started working in the mines yet, and yes he doesn’t go starving i bet, but he still has his younger siblings so he probaly gives some of his food to them, so he’s hungry but not starving.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=646157207 Mary Elena
      
      actually Peeta ate stale bread and did heavy lifting for the bakery everyday so he was buffer than the normal kids in district 12 thanks to the carb intake and you are right on the money about gale though
Io

I think I might cry because of how wrong they both look.
- http://twitter.com/derstk Katie Derstine
  
  #firstworldproblems
Anja Breuer

RIP Peeta’s blue eyes.
- maria
  
  Dammit!
- Tigerdew
  
  yeah, they should have totally given him some blue contacts at the least!
  - Cat
    
    Cause annoying contacts definitely won’t distract the actor from delivering a great performance
    - at least Peeta’s eye color isn’t significant in the books
- harryhungerpiratesgleefan6894
  
  RIP Harry Potter’s Green Eyes lol Daniel Radclifffe Has Blue
  - pauline ovenden
    
    Well Dan was 11 when he did it the contacts hurt his eyes and they werent about to make an 11 year old kid wear contacts. It was fine.
    - lily
      
      and Peeta’s eye colour isn’t related to the plot
http://twitter.com/aliciaaax14 Alicia Perez

Peeta looks terrible and Gale looks alright. This movie better be amazing so I can look past this.
- Alicia
  
  We have the same first name and surname and the same opinion about Peeta and Gale. I like you! :P
nodaybut2day

I know they will never look like how i pictured it, but this is good enough for me! Im just relieved Josh is blond enough… and i must say they both look pretty hot :)
http://www.facebook.com/nellytheduck Nelly Maree

I would agree with that assesment! Gale looks perfect and actually quite similar to the girl playing Katniss, which is good cos that’s how they’re meant to be in the books, similar looking. Not sure about Peeta :/
http://twitter.com/MisWooster Ksenia

love the way the made josh blondier. i imagined peeta like that.
http://www.facebook.com/SarahTipton Sarah Tipton

Liam looks like Gale, but Josh… Sorry you are no Peeta.
Kiaratm

WOW. It brought me some faith to the movie. I mean, Josh looks like exactly how I picture Peeta! Especially those arms! And Liam, he is okay, I can picture him as gale.
- Theaterboy1
  
  I agree! I LOVE the way BOTH characters look!!! I’ve been waiting and anticipating this ever since I heard about the movie and the cast, especially when the first look at Katniss came out!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-Anderson/100000423743602 Jason Anderson

The lighting on Josh’s face makes him look weird. I’m sure he will look better on film.
Lynnae

Eh. I’m not that impressed by any of the casting for the main three characters. Love all the secondary characters, but not these guys.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=565102001 Pamela Alvarez Rosales

Not want to be bad on Josh Hutcherson but he looks weird :S maybe is that we really are use to see him with his dark hair, also even though Liam Hemsworth looks pretty much as I imagined does anyone else noticed that Peeta looks older than Gale in this picture???
Teki

All of us who said Josh was wrong for Peeta can now take a bow for being right. What happened to that blonde wavy hair and blue eyes that Katniss feel in love with. EPIC FAIL. Liam is a surprise. He looks very good.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Erika-Johnson/619556596 Erika Johnson
  
  In what way are you right?
Elkistler

I don’t know what to think yet. Peeta looks kinda mean.
http://www.facebook.com/jheath56 Jacob L Heath

I think they both look great.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1776780125 Brett Holden

I think they look great
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1776780125 Brett Holden

Also, keep in mind that Gale isn’t going to look necessarily as starved as other people in the district. He hunts which brings him extra food and more exercise.
Teki

I agree Rose. They really screwed up on Peeta. So disappointed. Funny how they put Josh on a box so he is the same height as Liam (Liam is over 6 ft. Josh is only 5’7″).
http://twitter.com/AllieKMalik Allie M.

Gale turned out better than I expected, exactly how I picutred him in the books. Peeta, IDK. I like the idea of Josh playing him but somethin looks off. Maybe he needs to be blonder?
http://twitter.com/mrdineros Archie Dineros

Hmmm…I’ll just wait for the trailers to come out.
Caitlin

hmm… I imagined Gale’s hair longer but he’s ok, peeta? I imagined him to look friendly, and nice. He doesn’t…. at all
Matthewhpg

Why does Peeta look so…I don’t know, burly?
- Gab
  
  He’s described as being stocky and well fed because he’s the son of the baker. Strong from working in the bakery.
Eelaxyn

I think that they both look great! I just almost wish they picked actors who weren’t already pretty well known…
danyellow

I care less about what they look like than how they portray the character.

I just really hope they don’y over emphasize this imaginary love triangle. The books are NOT centered around Peeta-Katniss-Gale. It is second to the true plot and meaning behind the books.
- Gab
  
  Same. Talent is more important to me than looks, but I’m glad Liam and Jennifer dyed their hair darker. :D
- http://twitter.com/derstk Katie Derstine
  
  THIS. i do not understand people’s obsession with how blonde peeta is.
- Anonymous
  
  I read somewhere that they are going to make the love triangle more obvious and bigger so
  - danyellow
    
    I’m sure they will. They see how big Twilight is and want to profit from that. I hope they pay homage and tribute ;) to the books and its wonderful story.
    - Gan
      
      LOVE THE PUN :D
  - Jen
    
    i hope they dont make the love triangle bigger because its not the main point of the books and it was a side storyline that katniss never dealt with because shes in this world of fighting and killing and that is what was always prominent (surviving) not some stupid love triangle. Plus she was never really going to choose gale, she always loved him as a friend and just that.
    - Treea
      
      I am so with you Jen. I really do hate love triangles and although this book does deal with it a little, that is not the focus. I really do hope that’s just a rumor because if not then they have lost a fan already.
- Tucker
  
  But the point of the hunger games is that the partcipants fighting were kids not two grown -ups look-alikes.
  - Gracie
    
    Exactly it’s not going to portray the right emotions with viewers/audiences the same way that it did with readers.
- Anonymous
  
  Same :) I think they look fantastic though and people need to stop complaining before they have seen the film. Peeta not having blue eyes is hardly going to ruin the film.
  - daisy
    
    unlike with harry potter, and they didn’t change it even then.
    - obviously a different daisy
      
      you’re right, here it doesn’t even matter.. but Harry having green eyes was very symbolic with the whole slytherin/voldemort connection..
      - Guest
        
        No, they just needed to be the same as Lily’s. And that’s coming from the AUTHOR. Also, Daniel Radcliffe was one of the few people with an extreme reaction to the green contact lenses.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Erika-Johnson/619556596 Erika Johnson
        
        Harry having green eyes carried some great symbolism in the books, although I don’t think it was important to the movies. Harry’s eyes were green and Voldemort’s were red. Harry’s signature spell emitted red sparks and Voldy’s was green.
- http://twitter.com/blessedbyacurse Becky
  
  Let’s face it. Hollywood can’t resist a love triangle. It’s going to be played up.
- http://twitter.com/upper_westsider NYC Girl
  
  I agree about Hollywood focusing on the non-existent love triangle. But this is Hollywood. They can’t help themselves.
Bibliomaniac

I have to disagree with the majority of the comments here. Liam looks nothing like Gale to me.
- Mickey
  
  I agree completely. I thought he was supposed to be hot….and all the girls are supposed to love him. But this? Whaaaaa?
  - Tribute
    
    At least he doesn’t look like a troll
- Daisy
  
  ya know what’s weird.. the first time I saw the picture of the two guys portraying Peeta and Gale, I had them backwards in my mind.. I thought it was the other way round..
Mariah

i love this! i am so pumped for the movie! but where are peeta’s blue eyes?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tanya-Robinson/1006195257 Tanya Robinson

Peeta looks good… Gale no. NonoNOnonononono.
soph

i think peeta needs to look a bit softer, more like the boy with the bread, not the tough guy next door…
- Kirsten
  
  Well, this was for a magazine cover where it seems that EW is trying to portray both guys as hunky foes…. I’m sure Peeta’ll be vunerable when he needs to be.
  - Skye H.
    
    Exactly!!!!! I’ve seen several Josh films (Terebithia, Journey to the Center of the Earth, etc.) and he has always been UNBELIEVABLY great at the sensitive, tear-jerking bits. He is TOTALLY the boy with the bread. Love him to death.
http://www.facebook.com/ashley.stronach Ashley Stronach

Josh looks amazing! Wish he had blue eyes though :( Gale looks amazing and sexy as well :D
Anonymous

gale looks perfect, but peeta… not at all…
http://twitter.com/julegamache Jule Gamache

I’m content with Gale, not so much with Peeta. Not at all how Peeta should be. Maybe his acting will make up for his appearance…
aLilyForAPrince

Okay…I really love Josh as Peeta, I thought that he was perfect even back when they showed all the options for the role, but he is not wearing the right expression here. I really hope this picture is depicting his “career” side. Peeta is supposed to give off that “loyal” and “couldn’t hurt a fly” vibe which is something I could totally see in Josh’s mannerisms in interviews…but that’s not present in this picture :( …..
- Gab
  
  Couldn’t hurt a fly? He’s the one who opts to go back and finish that campfire girl off. o_O
  - aLilyForAPrince
    
    …..Ya, when he was a “career”–which obviously isn’t his normal demeanor since he was acting to keep Katniss safe. I really doubt he actually killed the girl, by the way, and even if he did it would of been to end her suffering.
    Anyway, the whole point is that Peeta is a softy, always being described as kind and loving, so he shouldn’t be …glaring in this picture. Looking at it again I think the picture would be more accurate if Gale’s and Peeta’s expressions were switched.
Rose H

Liam and Josh will prove themselves (or not, maybe) as Gale & Peeta on screen. Not in some publicity spot with EW.
http://twitter.com/chittycoopcoop Courtney Cooper

i don’t really have any feelings about them as Gale and Peeta. all I can say is that if this picture was all I had to go on in deciding which guy to pick, it’d be hands down Gale :) but Peeta is so great in the books…
http://twitter.com/Keir_a Keir

Wow, this is not as bad as I was expecting it to be.
http://twitter.com/efaaaaaaa Aoife O’Gorman

peeta i can live with but GALE :’((
noodles

neither of them are how I pictured the characters. and what happened to Peeta’s blur eyes! let’s hope they can act.
- jlvolsch
  
  I thought Peeta had BLUE eyes not BLUR eyes.
Laura

I always think we should wait until we see the movie before judging the actors and the casting choices, so I really don’t understand the Josh Hutcherson hate… he’s already Peeta to me!
- Mary
  
  Me too. I think I’ll like him as Peeta. I’ll have to wait to see the movie to have an opinion on Gale though.
  - luna
    
    i agree w/this. ppl tend 2 forget tht peeta is very stocky, something i couldnt rlly picture in the books, but can picture perfectly here. wht the big deal w/the eyes? gale thou…ill live. im already sold on jenn cause of her x-men proformence.
  - luna
    
    also, suzanne was part of the casting directos. r ppl rlly gonna say they know the arthur’s characters better than her?
jlvolsch

I think both characters look great! So excited for this movie! :)
Jasmine

I think Peeta and Gale look great! Yeah, Peeta doesn’t show that softness he has in the books, but this is just a magazine cover.
HP 4EVER!

I like the way Gale looks! But yeah, Peeta…I think he looks a bit to muscular and manly…

In the book, District 12 is full of poor people, they wouldn’t look that strong. Especially with the fact that Peeta works at his family’s bakery!
- aLilyForAPrince
  
  ….Peeta is described as muscular in the books….
- Victoria
  
  Yeah, they actually SHOULD look strong because most of the people in District 12 have to work their butts off to survive and live.
Anonymous

Well Gale doesn’t look right for me at all, but Peeta is ok. Maybe Peeta could have been a bit taller, but I’m kind of ok with it.
Lara

I wish Peeta’s hair was a bit longer.
Silverfirelizard16

I think they look great. But who cares about that anyway…I mean, I couldn’t give a rat’s behind about how wavy Josh’s hair is. All I care about is that they can act. Looks aren’t that important. Besides, people have their own interpretation of how the characters can look…and my Peeta actually looks a little bit like that.

In the end, it’s just somebody’s interpretation of how the series looks…and with that mindset, I’ll actually enjoy the film (unlike the thousand other people who can’t get past the fact that his eyes aren’t blue).
Nikki

I don’t think ether one of them looks like Gale or Peeta. Gale should look a little bigger and and Peeta shouldn’t look so tough and more blond.
- katie
  
  More blond? Josh’s hair in this pic is ash blond. That’s the color it was described as in the books.
  I miss the blue eyes, but I don’t think they’re THAT important. And Peeta’s supposed to have a stocky build, people.
  So, I’m pleased with Peeta.
  Gale….not so much. But maybe that’s just my distaste for Liam Hemsworth coming through.
eeemmD

how does it make sense that peeta is bigger than gale?!
i always pictured gale as more built that peeta.
estewart526

I love it!! They look awesome!! <3
Cheydancer

mm gale looks great Peeta…….not so much. And I’m kinda leaning towards Peeta in the books so…
Tigerdew

They both look really similar to how I pictured them, just missing a few key things, like Peeta looking more kind a gentle with blue eyes, and I thought Gale had brown eyes.
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LizEvans99

I think they both look perfect for the characters!!!!
Shantelle

I love the sandy blondeness!!!!
And Peeta is described as muscular because he hauls around enourmous bags of flour all day.
Mettalie

I really like the way Gale looks, but Peeta looks so weird. Hope he’ll look better in the movie.
Anonymous

OMG!! I’m hyperventilating they look so hot. Josh’s arms are huge and no he isnt exactly what Peeta should be look like, but I don’t really care he looks good. although he does need to come off a little more softer he looks mad in this picture. I also think Liam is perfect to be Gale. AH I am so excited for the movie to come out!!!
Globularcluster

They are so wrong.
Mickey

So…I thought Peeta had blue eyes? And I thought Gale was hot?
Anonymous

I’m ticked about the Peeta’s eyes too. This is not really how I imagined both of them but I’ll give them another chance. Now they have to impress me with their acting skills…
- Victoria
  
  …which should be the point in the first place.
Anonymous

I know that Peeta’s eyes are wrong, but so are Harry’s, and the world didn’t end when Dan’s eyes were blue not green. I know that Josh doesn’t look AT ALL like Peeta, but Jim Broadbent also looked NOTHING like Horace Slughorn, but he still nailed the part. Just give him a chance, then, after we see the movie, we can judge him.
- Victoria
  
  Not true (to my opinion at least). All Jim needed was the walrus mustache.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=646157207 Mary Elena
    
    actually slughorn in the book is shorter than dumbledore and rotund… and jim broadbent was tall and slim
Jazz

I think they both look great! I can’t wait till the movie comes out! I’m excited!
Rulsoc

mm well I did kind of imagined them like that just Peeta with the blue eyes..but everyone already said that..and anyway I will now imagine their faces like this when I read the books now that I saw them
Anonymous

Ok now I am worried.
HPForever3 :)

I don’t see it…no offense.

Gale is supposed to look beaten down and worn but he’s supposed to have this fiery gleam in his eyes, this look of determination, rebellion and hatred towards the Capitol. He needs to look strong as well though not exactly buff but fit-ish, but also as though he’s gone through sooo much nothing you throw at him will weaken him more, but make him stronger as though he will always fight. Liam just looks pretty boy-type.

Peeta is supposed to look innocent but no pushover, like he’s got this charm but you can’t take advantage of him. You can’t beat him down and he’ll keep his ground. Sweet but strong, determined but loving. And maybe a little less buff, he’s described as little more built because he’s lived in a bakery his whole life, but not exactly that buff, as a reminder he too has grown up in District Twelve. Josh, no offense, kind of looks pretty boy-ish and less caring, as in looks i mean.

I dunno, maybe im over analyzing this…but that’s just my thoughts on specifically their LOOKS. I just hope they portray them loyally!
- Gab
  
  They probably do look like that in the book world. But the movie adaption can’t provide every little detail and then still have the actor deliver talent-wise. I don’t know, I’m not overly worried about the film. When the trailers come, then I’ll be concerned or psyched.
- Victoria
  
  Um…I don’t think the casting directors could exactly put that as the description for the casting call…they probably wouldn’t be able to cast anyone at all if they were that detailed with the actors. It’s impossible for them to look exactly right…that’s just not going to happen. Everyone is being quite picky, I feel. It’s a book, and everyone (obviously) pictures something different.
  - HPForever3 :)
    
    Well yeah, like i said think im over analyzing this, but neither of them scream to me peeta or gale, if they hadn’t posted this i would’ve never guessed. but if this is how they’re gonna potrayed in the movie, i dunno how i feel. in any case, i just hope they do the character personalities justice!
- lilly
  
  but if you think about it Josh and Liam must be how Suzanne imagined the characters to be when she was writing the books.
Shannon

I think Peeta actually looks quite good. He may need to be a little softer but I always imagined him as a strong guy who had a sensitive side due to being harshly treated by his parents.

Gale bugs me. I though of a more mountainist type of guy.
kthanksbye

Wasn’t Gale 18?
Liam looks so old…

And Josh..? Don’t look so tough, will you?
Eoin

Peeta looks way better than Gale. But they both look to old. They look almost 40.
http://twitter.com/vonchambers Devon Chambers

Oh looks like Chris Lilley is portraying Peeta (if any of you get that reference, lol)
Tucker

I don’t like the way either of them look. To me, they both look like adults and this series is supposed to be about children fighting.
Meredith

as long as the portray the characters than i think this will ge a great movie. I know you can’t have everything you want but i think they look good. Just don’t want this to be similar to a Twilight triangle because people would lose the true meaning to the books
- Victoria
  
  AGREED!!!!!!
Harrypotterfan7

I’m very glad that they made changes to their hair colors, however their portrayal of the characters is much more important
Larael

I have to disagree with a lot of the comments being made about Josh as Peeta. Sure, RIP blue eyes, but I think he still looks “soft” compared to Liam. You don’t want him to look too soft though or he’ll come out looking like a pansy once they’re in the arena. Peeta needs to look like he can pull his weight even if, in the end, Katniss is the one who saves him every second of every day in the arena.
Hehedied

please dont turn hunger games into Twilight!!, i hope the acting is good!!, Gale looks the part, but peeta looks too tough.
Anonymous

Blonde hair looks really weird on Josh! haha
Jzdancer5

wth this is terrible
Anonymous

They both look pretty good to me. Too old of course, but what are you gonna do? Even if they got younger actors they’d grow up far too fast before they finished making all the movies.
Kirsten

Squee! They look great. Both Liam and Josh look the part. I just hope that they play the characters well!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000064671775 Benjamin Swall-yarrington

gale actually looks skinny…
gab

Just saw some photos from the movie!! I guess it’s in the issue as well? They look a lot better than the cover page, since they’re not photoshopped and whatnot. :D
- aLilyForAPrince
  
  I agree, the two solo pictures are PERFECT. I’m much more inclined to believe that this movie is going to be TOTALLY AWESOME now….. and the editors at EW just happened to have their eyes closed while picking the cover… ;)
http://www.facebook.com/iDomi Domi Ed

Meh, not a fan at all of how Gale looks but I’ll get over it.
I am confident they will do an awesome job.
Anonymous

They LOOK DUMB> i am sooooo disappointed.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=646157207 Mary Elena

lovin the definance in Josh’s “Peeta” stare I think that is spot on… do I wish he was blonder, yeah but at least his look is about right though I am not liking this glamour shot as a whole i think they missed the mark I’m not sure if its the background or the editing but Liam’s “Gale” looks hella weird in this shot… like he came out of some “aids” commercial from the 90s or something depressing like that… I’m expecting gale to be more fierce and here he looks like a lost kitten
zoe

that is not gale :(
Jacob

They look okay to me. I thought Gale was going to be . . . more tough, and Peeta was going to be softer, but I think they got the look of them okay. I’m not worried the movie will be awesome.
http://twitter.com/blessedbyacurse Becky

They look so old for the characters. Gale and Peeta are like… 17/18. What’s wrong with casting young actors for young roles?
Well, as long as they can act I suppose.
- Kirsten
  
  Actually, Josh (Peeta) is 17/18. He’s playing a sixteen-year old. Gale is supposed to be 18, though it seems to be implied that he looks older, at least to Katniss. Liam Hemsworth is 21. Liam looks thirty, but I think that Josh looks really good, even if he’s not how I imagined him.
  
  And to answer your question, I will give you two words: labor laws. Children can only work six hours each day, have to be schooled on set, and a bunch of other regulations to prevent abuse. Teenagers in television or movies are typically in the twenties- some of the actors on Glee are almost thirty. Actually, Josh and Liam are on the younger end of the spectrum.
  
  Also, younger actors in their early teens are generally used to play children as long as they possibly can because they’re just better actors. Older actors are generally better. Also, teenage actors have the possibility of going through puberty while the film in in production, which was an issue for the Harry Potter films (they were afraid the cast would look radically different as they grew up).
  
  It’s called Dawson’s Casting.
katie_lavelle2

Oh my God. I love this. They are perfect… well, I guess Gale could have long hair…. I think that would be fun, but if he doesn’t I won’t be upset. And the blue eyes for Peeta isn’t necessary. Would it be nice, yes, but necessary, no. He’s the perfect Peeta with or without blue eyes. He’s beautiful. Maybe I think that just because I’m in love with Peeta… :) No, but really, I think Josh is perfect for Peeta. He just has that kind, sweet face. Very happy with these pictures though! :) Can’t wait for more!!!!
Gabby

I just wish that Gale had longer hair. Otherwise they did a good job.
Hollyiscool

omfg soooooo hot!!!!!
http://twitter.com/TonksftMemories TonksftMemories

I really don’t have much faith in the Hunger Games movies. Let’s face it- they will play up the love triangle to try to appeal to the Twilight fanbase, there’s no way they will include the extent of the violence and even thoug the books are really cinematic, the horrors of the Hunger Games are best left to your imagination.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000008061767 Justine E Woodard

I’m impressed! The only problem I have is that they both look to old, Gale in particular. And didn’t Peeta have blue eyes?? I guess its going to be like Harry Potter again, with the bright blue eyes they could have so easily turned to green.
Gracie

Hmm Liam as Gale actually looks good – i imagined his hair a bit longer but a part form that the way Katniss described him – build wise and all he got right. Josh oh Josh as much as i love Josh – he’s an awesome actor he just doesn’t fit my Peeta profile, the hair isn’t blonde enough and his eyes aren’t blue and he looks i don’t know if strong is the right word but he was my min slim – not skinny. I don’tno i just don’t see that vulnerable side he has the book.
Gracie

Honestly i don’t think Liam knows what he’s getting himself into. When the movie comes out, their going to blow up!! – big time.
Camillo

I never. Ever. Thought I’d be complaining about this, but… Does peeta look more muscled than he’s supposed to be? There’s a whole theme in the books that focuses on the effect war has on children. Peeta doesn’t look in the least like a child. WTF?
On the other hand, it’s good they’ve chosen actors who can deal with the emotions in the book, as opposed to picking actors who just LOOKED the part.

Im torn. :
- Mary
  
  I like that they didn’t focus on the looks and more on the acting. I’d rather have them look nothing like the characters and do the story justice than to look like them and make a horrible movie. But that’s just my opinion. I like the actors so far, though I agree they look a little too old.
Jen

Liam doesnt look like hes drom Distric 12. Despite him and katniss being able to hunt and get some food, they share it with thier families and are still starving just a bit less than the others
coolcatcheesecake

still don’t think that they look the part. either of them. but oh well, i just REALLY hope that they can convince me of their character!
Granger Danger!

Gale looks too old and just not right, Peeta I think will do fine. I just hope the acting is good enough and over all stick to the damn book.
Granger Danger!

Gale looks too old and just not right, Peeta I think will do fine. I just hope the acting is good enough and over all stick to the damn book.
Sanmarpotter

I’ve just finished reading the first one (the hunger games) and i loved it. I hope they make a good film. They’re not as i pictured gale or peeta, but if they’re good actors, i wont care.
Vanpran

I thought Gale had long hair? I am okay with both, as Josh looks more like Peeta now. And the books aren’t about a love triangle, they are about how severe trauma,stress, fear for loved ones, and war affects the relationships of a young woman, and the men in her life.

As the books continue, it’s not about a love triangle, it’s about survival, nightmares, and the only thing teenage about them is that Katniss can’t figure out she loves Gale as a friend, and loves Peeta as a boyfriend. I just don’t know why they make them YA books; it’s dark, disturbing stuff.
Anonymous

My only problem is that I saw Peeta’s hair as being a tad longer. Maybe that’s because I find long-ish hair attractive, but idk.
Daisy

I never really got a concrete idea in my head of what these characters look like, while reading the books.. I care more about how they portray the character than how they actually look.
Alvispotter

Definitely not how i imagined them but both are pretty neat! LEt’s see how it works out im dying to watch this!
glasswatar

oh wow… They actually look really good. Peeta is wide and broad shouldered while Gale is tall and slim… They look great!
Beef_Ed_up

They look good. Hutchinson is all muscly like he is supposed to and Hemsworth looks skinny and gangly… i like it :)
Helochicken

No becuase there are certain physical qualities that are very very important to their character. Like for example peetas blue eyes They show his kindness and his good heart and even in his most intense moments they show that sweet inner good hearted peeta through thouse preety blue eyes<3 They show when hees hurt and in pain. They show his overwhelming longing for katniss, and they show in the 3rd book how they go from being bright blue to a dull grayish blue wich shows how Peeta is emotionally and physiclly exuasted. Not to mention thats how katniss finds him through the camoflauge. Anyway what I am saying is their are certain qualities to a character that yes may be physical but at the same time are essential to who that character is. So yah what they look like matters.
Treea

These comments make me laugh. All I have to say is I will reserve my judgment until after I see the movie.
biggestfinnickfan

NO NO NO !
In the books it repeatedly mentions Peeta’s blue eyes, and all the emotions he portrayed with them. For me, the change in eye color is a drastic change to the character. Now, his eyes just look dull and boring. Not a hint of the emotion Suzanne Collins wrote about in the book :/
AMotherf*ckingPrincess

This is NOT AT ALL how I imagined Gale. We’ll have to see how he acts the part. If Josh would’ve smiled in this picture… I bet you all would see the boy with the bread. Looks wise, I think he looks pretty close to how I imagined Peeta. Again, we’ll see how he does acting.
On another note, I LOVE who they picked for Katniss. :)
Domo_dd

peeta!!!!!!!!!!!
wendy

gale is suppose to have straight brown hair and not curly and they should of used younger actors
- Hailey
  
  any younger and they would’ve been 12..
  josh is only 19
googleyeyes4739

I cant wait to see the movie I know it will be awesome… and I am gonna see it for free!!!!! Go Catniss!!!
Barbiegirlgeny

Liam looks like what i kinda thought gale would look like but Josh is all wrong THANX A LOT HE JUST LOOKS SO WEIRD AND BOTH ARE SO HAIRY AND BUILT I WISH THEY DIDNT HAVE THAT MUCH MUSCELLS AND HAIR.
Barbiegirlgeny

2 much defention in the face for peeta
Vivian Lestrange

I just noticed how they made Josh look taller on the cover than he actually is.

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FIRST LOOK: Gale and Peeta in ‘The Hunger Games’!

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