I'm fucking furious. Absolutely furious.
Look. I have accepted that the movies removed the racial implications in the storytelling from the first. If it wasn't clear in the main character casting, it was certainly clear in the shot of that first reaping scene in District 12 where there isn't even a single HINT of melanin.
I've accepted that the relevant themes of racial subjugation were removed not just from Capitol to District but also within classes in the districts themselves.
But the ONE case in which the movies maintained the racial themes in their storytelling? District 11. Across FIVE movies it has been made clear through FILM CANON that District 11 is predominately black. And the characters we have known by name from 11 have all been black. And their blackness has always been a part of their kindness, their heroism, their rebelliousness, their community, their bravery, their sacrifice, and their mercy.
To cast a white girl as Lou Lou (and by extension Louella) is so cowardly I don't even have enough words to express it.
"But Katniss reminded Haymitch of Louella and movie Katniss is white."
Rue reminded Katniss of Prim. That is the SINGLE argument people have used for AGES to justify the argument that Rue should have been white.
As if skin color had anything to do with how young and vulnerable and GENTLE she was. As if all of those reasons weren't ENOUGH reasons to have Katniss be reminded of Prim when she saw Rue.
If you can't look at a child and be reminded of the spirit of another person because of their skin color - that's a skill issue, I don't know what to tell you. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Choosing to cast these girls as white is a very specific backtrack on the ONLY racial commentary we EVER got in these films and everyone who had a decision in it is a COWARD.
(and, to be VERY clear, I'm certain these two kids are going to be incredible. I don't want to hear a single thing about them or see anything directed towards them. ALLLLLLL of my smoke is for the decision makers. Cowards, every single one of them.)