Just the other day, we reported on the latest news concerning Catching Fire, the eventual sequel to The Hunger Games that will be hitting theaters in late 2013. Gary Ross spoke highly of the second film, while Jennifer Lawrence neglected to mention too much. We knew a fall start for production was the aiming time table, and now we know just exactly when the sequel will begin filming.
North Carolina news’ Russ Bowen (via Hypable) reported that Catching Fire‘s production will begin in September, just two months after Jennifer Lawrence revealed she’d begin training for the second film. Bowen says it was yet to be confirmed if filming would commence in North Carolina again, as its where the first film was shot. However, Lawrence said that the second movie could film in Hawaii, so it’s very likely that the two could be competing for the backdrop of production.
Director Gary Ross, who’s returning for Catching Fire, spoke on the sequel saying “I love the title Catching Fire because from the moment Katniss was willing to eat the berries, the moment she was willing to give her life for something larger than herself, she set off a chain reaction that was at once bigger than her and also because of her. That’s a very exciting movie to make because you’re seeing the emergence of a leader. It’s the birth of a revolution so it has context that’s larger than just the Games themselves.”
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, and more are scheduled to return to the sure-to-be-billion-dollar-box-office-franchise. Catching Fire is the second of a scheduled four films from Lionsgate, but it’s currently uncertain if the second novel will be split into two or not.
Meanwhile, in the novel version of The Hunger Games, Katniss is in need of comfort on two separate occasions. She seeks comfort before she heads off to The Capitol in the arms of her family and Gale, while before the Games she receives comfort in the arms of her new best friend Cinna. Both scenes have been hinted at in the trailer for the upcoming film, but rarely seen. Now, Lionsgate has released a new photo that shows one of the two scenarios, and you can see it right below.
Click to enlarge the image courtesy of Rolling Stone:
The image is especially significant, and does add a great amount of depth to the characters. Out of all the ones released so far, I think this one might be my favorite. This scene definitely has a good amount of importance in the book, so it was more than likely not to be skipped over in the film version.
Finally, fans can’t wait to see the book they love come to life, and everything they’ve been waiting for succeeding on the big screen. But today, Lionsgate has announced that screen is about to get a whole lot bigger, as they’ve teamed up with IMAX for a limited run on the larger-than-normal platform.
The two announced today that The Hunger Games will hit IMAX for one week only, starting on the much anticipated release date of March 23rd.
Written and directed by Gary Ross and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik, The Hunger Games: The IMAX Experience stars Academy-award® nominated actress Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novels have already developed a massive global following, with more than 23.5 million print copies in the United States alone.
Lionsgate’s Joe Drake, “With this news, the release of The Hunger Games has truly become an epic event. The Hunger Games and IMAX are a match made in heaven – fans love this book because its world is so vividly imagined and seeing the film in IMAX will make them feel as if they have landed right in the middle of the action. It is the ideal way for fans to experience this film for the first time.”
Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment added, “The Hunger Games is one of the most popular properties in recent memory and we’re excited to offer this passionate fan base the opportunity to experience this exciting adventure in the most immersive way. We’re proud to kick off our relationship with Lionsgate around this highly anticipated film that will make a strong addition to our 2012 film slate.”
The IMAX release of The Hunger Games will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
The Hunger Games hits theaters on March 23rd, while the sequel will open in November 2013.
