Taylor Kitsch Snuffs 'Catching Fire' Finnick Rumors

Actor was rumored to be in the running for 'Hunger Games' sequel, along with Garrett Hedlund and Armie Hammer.
By Kara Warner

Taylor Kitsch
Photo: Getty Images

And then there were two? The list of three very eligible male actors — Taylor Kitsch, Armie Hammer and Garrett Hedlund — recently speculated to be the top choices to play fan-favorite character Finnick O'Dair in the "Hunger Games" sequel "Catching Fire" has apparently been trimmed to two.

Kitsch said the speculation about his possible involvement in the second film in the blockbuster franchise is just that.

"Not going to happen," the "Battleship" and "John Carter" actor wrote in an email to the Los Angeles Times this week.

There has been no word from either Hammer's or Hedlund's camps regarding the validity of the report, but when MTV News reached out to Lionsgate for confirmation, we received this statement: "Like the first film, Lionsgate won't be commenting on any of the rumors until we officially announce."

Finnick appears in both "Catching Fire" and the last book in the franchise, "Mockingjay," and is memorable for his extreme attractiveness, along with the fact that 10 years before he entered the arena in "Catching Fire," he had won the Hunger Games at age 14 using a Trident.

Another actor rumored to be in the running is Robert Pattinson, who quickly put those rumors to bed. "I was kind of curious for a second," Pattinson told USA Today about the reports. "So I called my agent. My agent was like, 'No ... no one's going to offer you that part.' I was like, 'Thanks for the reassurance.' "

This hasn't stopped us from doing our own speculation and fan casting of the role, which provides for a fun distraction until Lionsgate makes the official announcement.

There's still time to cast your vote for "The Hunger Games" to win big at Sunday's MTV Movie Awards, airing at 9 p.m. ET. The film is nominated for a slew of Golden Popcorn trophies in the categories of Best Cast, Movie of the Year, Best Hero, Best Fight, Best Kiss and more.

Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live this Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET.

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