Lionsgate Confirms the Return of Major Cast Members of ‘The Hunger Games’
May 05, 2012
Posted by Crystal • 35 Comments »
Categories: Catching Fire Movie
Earlier in the week, Lionsgate issued a press release confirming new director Francis Lawrence and also included confirmation of the return of major cast members from ‘The Hunger Games’ for ‘Catching Fire’.
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth will reprise their roles as Katniss, Peeta and Gale, with Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, and Woody Harrelson also returning to their respective roles. The film will be produced by Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Production is slated to begin this Fall, and the film will be released on November 22, 2013.
Thought I should post this since I’ve seen a couple of comments in the last few days wondering about the return of the actors for the sequel. I myself had been wondering about Woody Harrelson since he just signed onto an HBO detective show. Hopefully this eases some worries out there!
Source: Lionsgate
Michael Arndt in Talks to Re-Write ‘Catching Fire’ Script
May 05, 2012
Posted by Crystal • 25 Comments »
Categories: Catching Fire Movie
According to The Hollywood Reporter, writer Michael Arndt is currently in talks to work on the re-write of Simon Beaufoy’s script for ‘Catching Fire’. Best known for his work writing scripts for Toy Story 3 and Little Miss Sunshine, Arndt was also hired last year to write the script for Disney’s Phineas and Ferb movie!
Francis Lawrence is officially on board to direct the movie, stepping into the chair vacated by Gary Ross, who helmed the $600 million-grossing first installment in the franchise.
The sequel is barreling toward a late-summer production start. While Lionsgate doesn’t yet have a deal with Arndt, if he signs on, he will have to work double-time to get the script ready due to a squeezed schedule caused by star Jennifer Lawrence’s commitment to Fox’s X-Men: First Class sequel. That tight schedule was one reason Ross declined to take on the project.
Source: THR
Get to Know Francis Lawrence
May 04, 2012
Posted by Ciara • 9 Comments »
Categories: Catching Fire Movie, Director: Francis Lawrence
Oscar-Winning Praise: In 2005, Academy Award–winning A Beautiful Mind screenwriter Akiva Goldsman said of Lawrence, “Contrary to what you might expect about Francis’ background, he’s a very story-oriented and very character-oriented fellow.”
A Vote of Confidence from Reese Witherspoon (speaking of Water for Elephants, in which she starred): “. . . it’s a big undertaking, in taking on a very popular novel and having to tell a story with scenes that have no words. Film is a very visual medium, and I think he did an incredible job with that. Some of my favorite scenes in the film are ones where we don’t speak at all. We’re just seeing each other, from a distance. I think he told the story beautifully, in that capacity, and really chose those moments well.”
To learn more facts about Francis Lawrence, head on over to Vanity Fair.
Dandelion Festival
May 03, 2012
Posted by Erin • 6 Comments »
Categories: Events
“I had just turned away from Peeta Mellark’s bruised face when I saw the dandelion and I knew hope wasn’t lost…. That night, we gorged ourselves on dandelion salad.” — Katniss, ‘The Hunger Games’
I always loved the part when Katniss realized she could eat dandelions, and how she came to always associated the hope they gave her with Peeta. But Katniss wasn’t the first to realize that those pretty golden-headed weeds are edible.
Breitenbach Wine Cellars, nestled in the hills of Ohio’s Amish Country, will be holding their 19th Annual Dandelion Festival on May 4 and 5. Inspired by the popularity of their dandelion-flavored wine, owners Duke and Cynthia Bixler started the festival back in 1993. It was voted one of the top ten festivals on ‘TV Food Network’ and averages around 15,000 guest a year.
Every festival features a Dandelion Picking Contest for the kids, a 3.5 mile Dandelion May Run, the Great Dandelion Cookoff, craft tents, and live entertainment. Various vendors sell such foods at dandelion sausages, dandelion bread, dandelion lasagna, dandelion soup, dandelion jam, and my personal favorite, dandelion ice cream. Dandelion wine and sangria are also always available.
I grew up just minutes from where this festival is held and have a lot of great memories of it. I wish I could attend this year. I think I’d pay particular attention as the children run across the hill and through the meadow, filling their buckets during the Dandelion Picking Contest. I can’t even look at a dandelion without smiling anymore, remembering how it became a symbol of hope to Katniss and how she realized in the end that ‘What I need is a dandelion in the spring.’
For more information on the Dandelion Festival, you can visit their Web site or Facebook page.
Below are some of the previous years’ entries in the Great Dandelion Cookoff. I really want to try the soup and the cheesecake!
The Fight To Help Childhood Hunger
May 03, 2012
Posted by Sarah • 3 Comments »
Categories: Charity
The World Food Programme (WFP) recently sent out an email containing information regarding their fight against hunger; including information about their partnership with ‘The Hunger Games’. Check out what they said in the email:
‘Most of the characters from The Hunger Games didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. That might be fiction, but for more than 16 million children in the United States, food insecurity is a stark reality.
During the summer, when school is out, the problem is even worse as these children cannot get the free and reduced-price school meals on which many of them rely.’
I think its great that Lionsgate is using their publicity to help world hunger, and relating problems like this back to the novels really reminds us of how horrible hunger is for those involved, just like Katniss in ‘The Hunger Games’. The WFP are always looking for donations so if you’d like to donate even a small sum of money, you can do so here. Sometimes people forget the true messages of ‘The Hunger Games’ and I think that, as a fandom, it is important to support charities like this who really work to alleviate suffering in the world. I have personally donated to this organisation and I encourage you all to do the same. Come on Mockingjays, lets end hunger together!
Francis Lawrence Addresses ‘The Hunger Games’ Fans
May 03, 2012
Posted by Crystal • 49 Comments »
Categories: Director: Francis Lawrence
With director Francis Lawrence being officially announced in a press release today, Hunger Games fans across the world are breathing a collective sigh of relief. The director, fully aware of the fanbase he has to live up to, issued a statement to the fans out there eagerly watching as he takes the helm for Lionsgate’s blockbuster franchise.
“Hello fellow Hunger Games fans! I just want you all to know how unbelievably excited and honored I am to be a part of Catching Fire. At the end of the day, all of the work that I put in to my movies is for you — the fans. Make sure to post and let me know what you’re most excited to see in this adaptation as we aim to make something truly faithful and spectacular!” – Francis Lawrence
Source: The Hunger Games Facebook
Francis Lawrence Officially Signs On to Direct ‘Catching Fire’
May 03, 2012
Posted by Kimmy • 21 Comments »
Categories: Catching Fire Movie, Featured
Looks like Francis Lawrence is officially the director! Before this, he had been offered the director’s chair but I assume details had to be sorted out before it was official.
“Lionsgate, the cast, and filmmakers are all thrilled to have Francis Lawrence come on board as director of Catching Fire. Suzanne’s brilliant book is the intense story of the birth of the rebellion and Katniss’ emotionally charged journey as she takes on the mantle of the Mockingjay, and we all think Francis is the perfect director to bring the story to life,” said Erik Feig, Lionsgate’s President Of Production.
“From the very beginning of this brilliant trilogy’s journey from page to screen, our first priority has been to stay true to the heart and soul of Suzanne Collins’ powerful stories. From my first conversation with Francis, I knew he would make a great partner for both me and Suzanne. His passion for Catching Fire and inspired ideas for a faithful adaptation make him the perfect director for this movie. I know this will be a wonderful collaboration and I cannot wait to get started,” echoed producer Nina Jacobson.
Said Francis, “It is truly an honor and a privilege to bring Catching Fire, the second chapter of Suzanne’s beloved trilogy, to the big screen. I fell in love with the characters, the themes and the world she created and this chapter opens all of these elements up in such a thrilling, emotional and surprising way. I can’t wait to dive right into it and bring this chapter to life along with the truly superb cast and filmmakers involved.”
Casting Fire: Fancasting Brian Cox for Plutarch
May 03, 2012
Posted by Sarah • 38 Comments »
Categories: Casting Fire
You asked us to do more ‘Catching Fire’ cast predictions, and we answered! Each week up until official ‘Catching Fire’ castings are announced, the staff of Mockingjay.net will be running a series called ‘Casting Fire’, taking a look at potential casting choices for other ‘Catching Fire’ characters. Thursday brings us to our ideas for Plutarch Heavensbee, and to kick us off we are starting with Brian Cox.
Brian is best known for his roles in X2: X Men United and Troy and is currently 65 years old.
Jesse Williams Responds to Fans Finnick Campaign
May 03, 2012
Posted by Tash • 103 Comments »
Categories: Speculation and Articles
E! Online recently caught up with Jesse Williams, best known for his role on ‘Greys Anatomy’, and asked his thoughts on fans campaigning for him to play Finnick in ‘Catching Fire’:
I have heard that! I’ve seen a lot of that on Twitter…I didn’t know what the heck a Finnick was when I was getting a lot of the questions about it.
I’ve since been educated, and that’s fun. People are really, really excited about it. There’s a website that’s dedicated to it—Jesse for Finnick. It’s kind of taking on a mind of its own. People are creative about that kind of stuff, and now I’ll try to figure out if that’s something that’s interesting to me.
It certainly is a big, successful project, and I read the first book, which was great. In this day and age, I think it matters what the fans think and they envision certain things.
If he didn’t know who Finnick was before, he certainly does now! And I have to agree with E! that he should go and grab a copy of ‘Catching Fire’!
What do you think, is Jesse a suitable Finnick?
Source: E! Online
‘The Hunger Games Adventures’ launches ‘We Are Panem’
May 02, 2012
Posted by Tash • 2 Comments »
Categories: Hunger Games Adventures
‘The Hunger Games Adventures’ game makers have been busy this week, firstly adding more quests to finish Chapter 8 and now they have announced their new feature, ‘We Are Panem’:
The adventures continue as new chapters and features are added to The Hunger Games Adventures every week. Recently the Capitol Couture boutique opened for business, allowing players more options in customizing their character to express their creativity and personality as a citizen of Panem. As a way for fans to share their creativity, we’ve created a new Facebook community as a showplace for fans to share their character’s story and show off their style.
Once a week we’ll take the best posts and share them with all the players through a post in the game welcome screen. Take a screenshot of your character and write something awesome and be the Hero of the Week!
You can check it out and upload a screenshot of your character at http://www.facebook.com/WeArePanem
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