And so the Hunger Games casting continues, but not with additional tributes as expected, rather with Primrose Everdeen, Katniss’ (Jennifer Lawrence) little sister. The Everdeens are a particularly close-knit family living in the Seam of District 12. It’s just Katniss, Prim and her mother for their father was killed in a mine explosion. Unlike Katniss, both Prim and her mother have light hair and blue eyes, unusual traits in this mining town.

After speculation that Elle Fanning could be the one to snag this part or perhaps even the former Katniss contender, Chloe Moretz, Lionsgate opted to go with a fresher face, that of Willow Shields. Shields may sport hazel eyes, but otherwise, she’s got a downright perfect look for the role. As for her resume, it is quite bare, but we’ll get the opportunity to see her in action soon enough in the made-for-TV movie Beyond the Blackboard. Then again, I’d like to bet her role is rather minimal as Shields finds herself quite a ways down on the roster for that one.

While Shields’ character doesn’t make it into the Hunger Games, courtesy of her brave big sis, she is part of one of the story’s more troubling scenes, the reaping. Once every year, on reaping day, each of Panem’s 12 districts must select two teenaged tributes to compete in a fight to the death and the reaping day for the 74th Hunger Games will be one the Everdeen family never forgets. Once Katniss embarks on her journey to the Capitol, we don’t see much of Prim, but in subsequent books, particularly the third, the character takes center stage. So while a third film is likely a ways away, her casting now is quite pivotal.

At this rate more Hunger Games casting news is bound to come our way soon, so keep an eye on Shockya.com for the latest!

By Perri Nemiroff (via Deadline)