Lenny Kravitz cast as Cinna – The Hunger Games Movie
It’s the casting decision we’ve been long waiting for – to find out who will play Cinna in The Hunger Games movie. (Still no word on President Snow)
Here’s the press release:
LOS ANGELES, CA, May 23, 2011- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES are pleased to announce that iconic musician and actor Lenny Kravitz (PRECIOUS) has been cast in the role of Cinna in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel.
Said director Gary Ross of the casting decision, “When I saw Lenny’s work in PRECIOUS I was just knocked out. It was quiet and strong and understated and open hearted; all qualities which define this character. I’m really looking forward to this ride.”
About The Role
Cinna is Katniss Everdeen’s assigned fashion stylist for the highly ceremonial lead up to The 74th Annual Hunger Games. Though he’s a mild mannered first time stylist, the designs he creates, such as the “Girl On Fire” costume for the tributes’ live televised debut, are show-stopping. With odds being set, wagers being placed, and wealthy benefactors able to occasionally intervene in the games, a high public profile is tantamount to a huge advantage for any contestant entering the arena. The stunning and unique designs Cinna creates for Katniss define her public identity, and in an all too real way, could also contribute to her very survival.
About Lenny Kravitz
Regarded as one of the preeminent rock musicians of our time, Lenny Kravitz has transcended genre, style, race and class into a 20-year musical career, one which revels in the rich influences of ’60s and ’70s soul, rock and funk. From 1999 to 2002, he won four consecutive Grammy Awards, setting a record for the most wins in the “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” category with his single “Dig In” (previously winning for “Again,” “American Woman” and “Fly Away”).
In 2009, Kravitz appeared in a supporting role in the critically-acclaimed film Precious, for which he has received a 2010 NAACP Image Awards nomination for “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.” Kravitz and the acclaimed Precious cast also received a 2010 Screen Actors Guild nod for “Best Ensemble.” In addition to his role in Precious, Kravitz has also appeared in such films as The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and Zoolander. Marking his first release of new material in three years, Lenny Kravitz will release his highly-anticipated ninth studio album, Black and White America on August 30th. www.lennykravitz.com.
Related posts:
- Lenny Kravitz on playing Cinna in The Hunger Games movie
- Lenny Kravitz in the role that helped him land Cinna in The Hunger Games
- Lenny Kravitz on being offered the role of Cinna for The Hunger Games
- Lenny Kravitz talks about being Cinna in The Hunger Games Movie
- VIDEO: Lenny Kravitz talks Cinna and The Hunger Games
Extremely disappointed! Am I the only who picture Cinna as a petite and delicate, yet sophisticated and attractive man who could very well be gay? This “rock star” legend may be epic for his many other contributions to the world of entertainment, but for the Hunger Games? I pray they make this work. -__-
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!!!!!
*cough
I mean… that’s great!
…say WHAT? >.<
@ Team Peeta – “Am I the only who picture Cinna as a petite and delicate, yet sophisticated and attractive man who could very well be gay?”
Someone like Tim Gunn but a little younger and with long hair. Exactly what I had imagined Cinna to be.
I hate this casting more than any of the rest, and I’m not happy with any of it really.
hehe.. this one is totally unexpected. I totally agree with you @Cat — I was actually hoping for Cillian Murphy but oh well
Omg. they better have good make up artists
Almost how i pictured him except in my mind he had lighter, more closely cropped curly brown hair. He kinda has that carefree whatever look i imagined cinna to have like he cares but tries not to show it. I actually quite like
This is a terrible casting choice. It seemed like if anyone even uttered a random name, that person would be cast. I don’t know exactly where the first initial thought of Lenny Kravitz as Cinna came from, but it just kept coming back until they dropped this bomb. Absolutely terrible choice. I’ve never seen his acting chops, but that’s not what bothers me. What bothers me is that he doesn’t fit the role. I know they don’t ever say exactly what Cinna’s ethnicity is in the book, so I’ll let that slide, but the book clearly says that Cinna is young. Lenny Kravitz is 46 and certainly doesn’t look young for his age. I agree completely with TeamPeeta’s description of Cinna, that’s exactly how I envisioned him. I knew it would be a difficult part to cast, but this is ridiculous. I was already nervous about some of the casting choices that have been made, but now I’m even more concerned. Who’s next, Danny DeVito as President Snow?
WOW!!! i wasnt expecting that, i’ve been waiting for ages to see who is going to play cinna and im kinda disapointed but i cant wait to see how he goes.:)
I did not see this coming at all….and i love it!!!! this will definitely be an interesting part for him to play, and I cant wait to see if he pulls it off!!
No. Just no.
well i wanted sum1 like hugh dancy or jude law but when those few were suggested a month or so ago i kinda of saw him getting the role..hopefully yes they have good make up artists to change his haie..im sure they will(remember katniss when people were dissapointed)..so dont give up yet….
also i like christopher lyod or anthony hopkins as pres.snow but..
my personal fav is david patrick kelley from the longest yard
look him up if you dont know him ..hes excellent
STFU PEOPLE GET OVER IT!!
No, this is all wrong, Cinna is a delicate, skinny, dark haired young man with style. This man looks he would bite off Katniss’s head. Not the sweet Cinna that believes in Katniss and makes her look great. This man is totally wrong. He isn’t a man with several peircings. He is a man with a little bit of make up and nice hair. Not to be rude or racest but I always imagined Cinna as a pale man. Not black. Ever seen Glee? I always imagined Kurt. Or a man that looks like him. Or the prince from Ella Enchanted. Not a tough guy, with muscles cracking out of his shirt. This is disappointing.
I was fine w/ the casting choices until this one. Talk about an epic fail!! This one will be hard to swallow I’m afraid as I absolutely loved Cinna in the books. I’ve seen Lenny Kravitz act before and it’s nothing to write home about. ::sigh:: what a huge disappointment.
Well I did not have a specific actor, but what comes closest is Hugh Dancy. Nothing like as Lenny, who is nothing like the Cinna that Collins described in the book.
Again I say, and that whole thing to remain faithful to our book? Where is it?
It’s not what I expected but I think it’ll work. I’m not concerned with him looking as I expect as much as I am with him having the right “presence” about him. And I think that’s what the directors see in him. He persona is very much Cinna. Now please someone enlighten me…where exactly in the book did they say that Cinna was “petite and delicate”? That never came across to me.
no. this is perfect. multi- racial casting, i love it!!! and cinna is not petite. if he was, they wouldnt need 3 peacekeepers to knock him out at the beginning tof the 2nd games!
I really wanted Hugh Dancy or someone like the gay guy from America’s Next top model. But I dont know much about him so I will give him a chance then judge.
Hellooo, people, it’s called ACTING? Have you heard of it? I’m delighted with this casting choice, and can’t wait to see what Kravitz does with it. Also, in terms of Cinna’s being gay, have you never seen a black gay man? If the Cinna character IS gay, there is no reason Kravitz couldn’t play it. Free your minds.
I picture my Cinna to be gay and like really cute and a little older than Katniss…
He’s a little too old and a little too angry looking i guess you could say but Im starting to accept there not so great choices and just pray for the best.. :/
This is a … random choice… I expected Cinna to look a little more… white? And definatly a lot younger. Casting for this movie has been rather dissapointing for me, so I guess I should get used to it. What I’m REALLY waiting for is to see Josh Hutcherson blond! He’s currently filming another movie right now, so I’m anxious to see how everything is going to work out. Hopefully this movie will turn out amazing. … Is it strange to be nervous about something that will happen a year from now? B/c this movie has got me pshyced for March 23! CANNOT WAIT!
@Frizbee LOL Yes, Danny DeVito as Snow would really take the cake. Then they could totally turn it into a spook movie for shits & giggles.
@Syd Agree 100%! A bulging, rockstar is not at all what anyone picture Cinna to be, I’m sure.
This Hugh Dancy idea is brilliant, btw! I’m not sure why directors didn’t hunt people down who physically fit the role. But I’m sure they’ll soften Lenny up a bit to win us over. Ugh, until then.. the anxiety for future casting is unbearable.
spoof*
You know, he did do a great job as Nurse John. Really caring, really protective and loving, understated… Not at all the choice I would have gone with, but I have high hopes. Remember, people, Collins really does have a fair amount of say. She must have seen Cinna in him.
I always pictured Cinna as kind of Asian in features, but surprisingly, the idea of Kravitz as Cinna is growing on me.
I really do not mean to crash Gary Ross’ party but, that’s is not how I have ever pictured Cinna! Im sure he will do great but disappointed. He is a wonderful actor but not how I thought. Nowhere close. This is the first person who I dissapointed by. They can’t fix him like they did to Katniss, Peeta and Gale. Who look so damn amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really mean, I am so disapointed
chinna is creative and out there… he fits perfect.
What?! I mean seriously! What?! Like TeamPeeta said! Polite and delicate yet spontaneous and quite possibly gay!!! I always pictured him with nice clean cut brown hair, like Kurts, chocolate brown eyes, and medium side burns! His lips would be pinkish but just barely diffrent color than his skin. I still wanna see the movie but I am extremely disappointed by this. He is the first person I could not picture taking on the role of the character. Sorry those who love. I want my Cinna to come with a Kurt do and Fedora!!!
ummm come on guys i gotta say man they screwed up on who cinna should be but we should just put on a happy face and be happy, i will be happy but as soon as i create some images on lenny as cinna so brb. but u guys be happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This guy sucks!!! I’m sooo disappointed. I was looking for more of a cute and sweet guy. Thus guy is not at ALL of what I imagined him to look like.
ummm, WTF?? Where is hugh dancy!?!?!?!?!
haha hugh dancy never came to mind initially but after you all mention it, i can see it work
but lenny kravitz?! really? i don’t think the best acting in the world could give him the cinna vibe! i thought they were staying true to the books?
i love cinna so much. this isn’t how i imagined him at all. i imagined him like hugh dancy.
biggest disappointment so far..
BUT
i trust suzanne collinns and if this is her image, this must be cinna. she created him after all. i pray to god he can make me love him as much as i did in the book <3
OH MY GOD!!! CINNA IS NOT FREAKING GAY!!!!!!!!!! and you guys best stop with the comments about him being more black than you expected. if you are worried about looks, then watch tron. then look at the actors when they’re not all made up. he’s perfect.
What?! No No No! Disipointed!!!
Ok now im really aggravated and disappointed! everyone they’ve chosen for the hunger games is totally wrong for the descriptions given in the books ! At first i was really excited for the movie but now im not so sure i want to see it
disapointed exact opposite of how I pictured Cinna um they should take the piercings out
fail…….
im sorry. this is the character i was waiting for. i can put up with the rest of the cast. honestly i like most of the casting so far. but i cant handle this. livid would be putting it lightly, this is NOT what i pictured. by any stretch of the imagination!
Ha, this is great! I mean of course I pictured Cinna not like this. never! but it´s so funny! Lenny Kraviz! Come on, the first thing I was doing when I read this, was laughing! He does not look the way I pictured Cinna, but this is not a reason for me to hate the decision. No I´m open for new ideas. and this is an idea I really love! hahaha
I have yet to read the books although they are high on my list now that I have been reading so much about the movie. I’d love it if you would stop by my page and tell me a bit more about the fuss over this movie. Why is it generating so much buzz a year before it is made?
Really, they picked a black guy. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.
wow if he ruins this movie like all of the other people that ruined books-made-into-movies im gonna get really mad
Ummm for all those sayin lenny kravitz isn’t “gay” enough I think he could be very gayand its called acting so I’m impresed I was expectein somebody very small and gay and white
But maybe there could be somthin between portia and cinna
P.s. how is cinna pronounced
@ Hershey- you pronounce it Sin-Uh.
I honestly think they should have used darren criss for cinna. oh well, its only one casting, and i’m ok with the others.
I really wanted Hugh Dancy for the role. He is an excellent actor and extremely handsome. No offence to Lenny but the role should have gone to Hugh in my opinion. He just fits the role.
Why him?
I personally don’t think that the movie will do very well I am a huge fan of the hunger games but the only way you know about what’s going on is because you can see what katniss is thinking. She’s in her head too much. In the movie we won’t be able to know what she’s thinking.
I always pictured Cinna as someone like David Tutera. NOT Lenny Kravitz. I’m seriously dissapointed!
Haha. When I read the books that is EXACTLY who I pictured. I just googled “Cinna should have been David Tuterra” To see if anyone agreed with me. Thanks for solidifying my bias. Cheers.
Fuck white people.
YOU JUST MADE HE BLACK
I have been disappointed in EVERY single actor cast for this movie. With every new actor announced I’ve been less and less likely to see it. After this one though? I’m DEFINITELY not seeing this movie, I’ll stick to my books and my imagination!
when you guys saw josh hutcherson w/ blonde hair was any 1 else thinking jesse mccartney? but i think hugh dancy wud b a really good person to play cinna nd i dont think any 1 was saying that cinna IS gay you juss sorta got a gay vibe from him! and i like the other cast choices i mean i can live with it there not that bad but this was a bit over the top it was juss a lil much nd i dont like it all nd i AM NOT being racist he juss isnt how i pictured cinna AT ALL!!!!
No, no!! This is all wrong!!! D:
DO NOT think I’m being racist, because that’s the farthest from it you can get. I mean, I’d say the same thing for any casting choice I didn’t like, for a character of any race (although Cinna’s is not specified).
But I always imagined Cinna as a YOUNG, SLIGHT, ATTRACTIVE, DELICATE, SERIOUS and approachable-looking man, with pale skin, gold-flecked green eyes, short hair and light gold eyeliner, and definitely NOT earrings or nose-hoops.
I really liked Cinna in the books. He was a real hero in his own quiet, sincere way, and a true friend to Katniss, despite everything. If this guy can pull that off convincingly maybe I’ll be less annoyed, but it still kind of destroys the ideal image I have in my head.
Cinna is an incredibly gifted stylist, not a rock star.
In The Hunger Games book, I believe that Cinna is described as having brown hair and green eyes – he struck me as being a white, gay male. American movie makers were too frightened to deal with the gay aspect(as usual) so they hired Lenny K. to play him so that his blackness would overshadow everything else, especially his being gay. In other words they played it very safe(blacks are accepted in American movies but gays are not.) But Lenny got the hint from the book and played him as being probably bisexual – he ended up being smarter than the movie makers. It’s a confusing casting role with Lenny as Cinna, but it still works in its own way.(America, stop being so frightened of gays!!)