Finnick Odair, the dreamiest tribute in Panem, has finally been found, but only after a lengthy search that spanned countless A-list actors and virtual unknowns alike. "Snow White and the Huntsman" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" actor [article id="1692321"]Sam Claflin will star as the trident-wielding Finnick[/article] in Francis Lawrence's "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," but once upon a time, there was a very different man in the running for the role: [article id="1686089"]"Tron Legacy" star Garrett Hedlund[/article].

Hedlund confirmed his near miss with "Catching Fire" during a recent interview with MTV News at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he was promoting "On The Road," yet another hotly awaited novel adaptation.

"They did [approach me]," Hedlund admitted to MTV about almost playing Finnick in the upcoming "Hunger Games" sequel. "But I was working on this film at the time. We shot the whole film in 23 days and I was really immersed in it. I couldn't get around [to reading the 'Hunger Games' novels]."

"Everybody around me is flipping out about the books, and I didn't really have the time to sit down lately to read any book, not just 'Hunger Games,'" he explained further. "But I've got a couple [projects] on my plate that I'm looking forward to reading now."

Even though Hedlund missed out on Finnick, the man who did secure the part is well-positioned to impress fans of all twelve districts. [article id="1693475"]"Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence[/article] spoke with MTV News recently and had nothing but kind words for what Claflin brings to the table as Finnick.

"He's wonderful," she said of her newest co-star. "He's really sweet, a great, wonderful actor. He's got a great American accent."

Check out everything we've got on "Catching Fire."