Donald Sutherland didn’t land his role in “The Hunger Games” movie franchise by chance; the actor penned a letter to the production to play President Snow.
Sutherland opened up about his casting during an interview with GQ. The actor had never heard of Suzanne Collins‘ novels before, but was immediately sold on the story.
“Nobody asked me to do it,” Sutherland said. “I wasn't offered it. I like to read scripts, and it captured my passion. I wrote them a letter.”
Sutherland knew it wasn’t going to be a huge speaking role in the first “Hunger Games” film, but the actor understood how important President Snow was to the story and the presence that was demanded of him.
“The role of the president had maybe a line in the script, maybe two,” Sutherland said. “Didn't make any difference. I thought it was an incredibly important film, and I wanted to be a part of it. I thought it could wake up an electorate that had been dormant since the '70s.”
Fans can catch Sutherland as President Snow in the third “Hunger Games” installment, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.” The third film will also introduce another President into the mix, Alma Coin.
Coin is the leader of District 13 and the brains behind the Rebellion. In the novels, Katniss Everdeen is distrusting of Coin, but it came during a time where the people she trusted lied to the young “Mockingjay”.
It’s difficult to tell what Coin’s true intentions are, but she does help guide Katniss to rise up against the oppressive Capitol. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” will be released to theaters on Nov. 21.
