Jennifer Lawrence: Keanu Reeves can play Katniss

LOS ANGELES — If they were doing a Hunger Games remake, who should play the leading roles?

The question was posed to the franchise’s three young stars — Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth — and they came up with some entertaining answers.

Hemsworth, who plays Gale Hawthorne, Katniss Everdeen’s best friend and hunting partner, said: “I’d probably want Melissa McCarthy to play my part! I just think she’s great and she would bring so much honesty and truth to the role.”

Lawrence, who plays Everdeen, upped the ante. “I feel like Keanu Reeves or Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson could really bring the strength that I was lacking and the agility. But if I were going female, I’d go with Bette Davis. And I guess the obvious choice would be Shailene Woodley. She’s proven that she could do it.”

And what of Hutcherson, who plays Peeta Mellark, Everdeen’s love interest? “I would choose young Dustin Hoffman, if it’s possible to go back in time. As in, The Graduate or Marathon Man.”

But Hemsworth had the last word, sneaking one in at the end. “I think Jim Carrey could also really be great as Gale.” AP