Despite Completely Disregarding Madge, Suzanne Collins Was Happy to See Elizabeth Banks Take the Spotlight in Hunger Games
A young adult dystopian tale of Katniss Everdeen against the Capitol is told in The Hunger Games. Written by Suzanne Collins, the movies were adapted from books starting in 2012. The most recent release titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes made headlines and achieved widespread appreciation. However, Collins revealed something about the past movies that surprised fans.
Elizabeth Banks in Mockingjay Movie
The people who have read the books know that Effie Trinket is a central character in the first two books but is not a part of the third book. Elizabeth Banks, known for Pitch Perfect and Cocaine Bear, portrayed the role of dynamic Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Collins was so impressed by her portrayal of Trinket that she requested Mockingjay director Francis Lawrence to add her to the third movie. According to Vulture, Lawrence said,
“How can anybody replace Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket in these movies? When Suzanne Collins saw Catching Fire, she called and one of the first things she said was, ‘There’s no way Effie Trinket cannot be in the Mockingjay films.’ Effie brings such warmth and fun and levity to these dark stories. She’s the fish out of water in this one and fans will love how she has adapted to the world of District 13.”
The opposite is true for Madge Undersee, a close friend of Katniss who is not seen in the movies. Her father is District 12’s mayor in the books. Allegedly, she was removed from the movies to save cost. The makers realized that Madge helps Katniss see the underlying problems with the system, but they chose to remove her character from the movies all the same. It would have been endearing to see an unexpected friendship blossom between Katniss and Madge on screen.
Trinket remains a memorable character from The Hunger Games franchise because of her unique outfits and her vibrant personality. Her onscreen presence, thanks to Banks, is captivating and draws the viewer into the movie. Collins requested a change in the plot itself so that they could bring Banks as Trinket back into the fold.
Elizabeth Banks Loved Playing Effie Trinket
Banks completely owns the role of Trinket and infuses her style and sense of humour into the character. Fans loved how she delivered her lines and enveloped the story in her persona. After the script was edited, Trinket was made into a confidant for Katniss, guiding her through the journey. In an interview with Extra, Banks revealed her love for the eccentric character,
“I love Effie. She’s one of my favourite characters that I’ve ever played. She’s just an incredible character. I really like the transformation. I like disappearing into her. She’s one of the best characters that I’ve ever brought to a set. Everybody gets excited when Effie shows up on set.”
A few other changes were also adapted in the movies from the books to make the story come alive in a better manner. For example, Katniss’s sponsor gifts arrive with notes in the books but there are no notes shown in the movie. The relationship between Katniss and her sister also undergoes some changes in the movie.
