Casting Fire: Fancasting Phoebe Tonkin as Johanna Mason

While it may be a little strange to continue with our fancasting series Casting Fire in the wake of all these recent rumours, they are still exactly that, rumours and speculation. So as promised we’ll be continuing on with our discussions on possible ‘Catching Fire’ actors and actresses until we get some official announcements

As its Tuesday it’s Johanna Mason’s turn, and this week we’re looking at 22-year-old Australian actress Phoebe Tonkin. Phoebe started her career with the Australian teen series ‘H20: Just Add Water’ and caught her movie break with the book adaptation of ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’. She is probably most recognisable to US fans for her role on the TV series ‘The Secret Circle’.

It’s pretty predictable that I would fly the flag for a fellow Aussie (I loved her in TWTWB), and I got some support from the girls too, although Erin has heaped the pressure on me! Do any Mockingjay readers think Phoebe would make a good Johanna?

Ciara

The only thing I’ve seen Phoebe Tonkin in is ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’ (if you haven’t seen it, it’s a not half-bad indie flick and has a slight Mockingjay air to it) and she was good in it and looks the part of Johanna. But for both Johanna and Finnick in the movie I want a significant visual age gap between them and Katniss and Peeta. I want it to be clear that these past victors have more experience and District 12′s latest are new to the game. So for the movie I think late 20s early 30s would look better on screen for those parts to make Jennifer and Josh look younger. For me, Phoebe’s too young.

Crystal

I’ve seen Phoebe Tonkin in ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’ and while I think she was a great Fiona, I’m a bit confused as to why she’d make a good Johanna. Out of that cast, I’d have picked the girl who played Ellie over Fi. I’ve only seen her in one thing though, so that’s probably not much to go on for such a big role as Johanna.

Erin

Not only have I never seen Phoebe Tonkin act before, I’d never even heard her name before it came up for this weeks Casting Fire. She looks the part of Johanna, at least to me, but I don’t have anything else to base an opinion from. Tash seems to think that she’d do a good job, so if they’re going to cast someone ‘unknown’ I’d be okay with them casting her. However, if Phoebe does get the role and ends up doing a horrible job, then I’ll just have to blame Tash for supporting her.

Tash

Phoebe is a great young up and coming actress, and though most of you will be familiar with her for her role as Faye in ‘The Secret Circle’ she showed off some good acting chops in ‘Tomorrow When The War Began’. The latter is my big plus for her playing Johanna, she has already been part of a major book to film adaptation (the book series is huge here in Australia, and is also quite well known overseas) and knows exactly what is required to portray a much-loved character. If you have seen the film and read the books you will understand it when I say she was Fi, she had every part of the character nailed (though the script in places was a bit weak and didn’t give her much). In that role she played a teenage girl part of things much bigger than herself, not too dissimilar to Johanna in a few ways, and gave both a sense of humanity and an inner strength to the character. From the few episodes I’ve seen of ‘The Secret Circle’ she can also perform the bitchy/snarky aspects quite well, and she wouldn’t look too old beside Jennifer and Josh. She also looks very much like I’d pictured Johanna, and has been through numerous hair cuts and colours so I’m sure that wouldn’t be a problem. I’d be very happy for Phoebe to be cast as Johanna.