There’s two new posters for director Francis Lawrence‘s adaptation of Suzanne Collins‘ Catching Fire, the second installment of the immensely popular The Hunger Games trilogy. After Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Petra (Josh Hutcherson) win the 74th annual Hunger Games they are sent on a Victory Tour of the 12 districts. These are two of the promotional posters for that tour.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens November 22nd in theaters everywhere and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, Woody Harrelson, Jena Malone, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amanda Plummer, Lynn Cohen, Patrick St. Esprit, Meta Golding, Bruno Gunn, Alan Ritchson, E. Roger Mitchell, Maria Howell, Stephanie Leigh Schlund, Sam Claflin and Jeffrey Wright.

If you haven’t seen Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook yet you’re really missing out a stellar performance. I was on the fence about her acting talent, but after watching her in that movie all my doubts disappeared. Now I want to see her bring that intensity to The Hunger Games. If she does, there is not telling how much the 3 remaining Hunger Games movies might bring in.

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The first Hunger Games flick was a resounding success and the folks in Hollywood are eager to get the rest of the trilogy up on the big screen.  Catching Fire is ready to go and the third book, Mockingjay, is going to be split into two films to get both maximum story coverage and maximum monies earned.  Now, the official word has come through that the Mockingjay Part II script is under construction.

Danny Strong was previously brought in to write a script that encompassed both Part I and Part II, but in some strange industry decision, the powers-that-be decided they wanted to see what he had for the first half before they’d allow him to continue.  But now everything is okay.  Strong is working on Part II officially and audiences will not have to endure the utter and complete horror that is a two-part movie being split between two separate writers.

The next three installments of Hunger Games will be coming out over the course of the next three years.  Catching Fire will be opening on November 22^nd of this year, with Mockingjay Part 1 expected to release November 21^st of 2014 and Part 2 November 20^th, 2015.

Thanks to ScreenRant for the heads-up.

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We all know it’s hard enough to maintain movie set-secrecy in the age of internet journalism with potential spies and secret spillers everywhere, but et tu, Google?

Yes indeed, if you want to not be spoiled about a key set in this fall’s sequel The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, then avert your eyes now. In other words: SPOILERS!!!

For the rest of you, you may or may not know that Catching Fire brings us the 75th edition of the Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell. In the book, champions from all previous Hunger Games are entered to be competitors, including our hero Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence). The layout of the arena is, shall we say, unique. Check out the view from Google Earth:

If you’re curious, and you haven’t read the book, the arena is clock shaped, like a giant sundial. New horrors are unleashed at the top of every hour as the light of the sun or the moon moves across the sky. You can click to embiggen if you like.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Jena Malone, Jeffrey Wright, and Amanda Plummer opens November 22nd.

Source: Collider

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Without anymore Twilight in sight (and thank Jeebus for that), what are tweens to do? Oh, wait… that’s right, we still have The Hunger Games!  If it’s not metro-sexual vampires and shirtless werewolves to feign over, fanatical teen girls and boys just love watching their ilk compete in a murderous death matches on the silver screen. Which, in my opinion, is SO age appropriate…NOT! Meh,  I guess it beats hearing them talk about Beiber and One Direction.

It’s just not kids. Most adults and grand old people are infatuated with Suzanne Collins renowned series. When the film adaption came out last year, it took the world by fire. The Hunger Games is so culturally relevant that archery sales/classes are up, and parents or naming their kids Katniss and Peeta. It’s kind of ridiculous really. But, whatevs. It is what it is. Just gotta roll with it.

Speaking of fire. The sequel Catching Fire is coming out in a few months, and it’s gonna be big.

For all y’all hungering for a preview, we’ve got a treat. Today, EW released the first official images of star Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair.

Take a gander below:

Update: EW has posted a few more pics, which we’ve added below. One of which, gives us our first look at Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee.

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With the second film installment in the wildly popular Hunger Games series underway, the studio is looking to move quickly toward getting the third flick, Hunger Games: Mockingjay, ready to go.  The goal is to release the movies one every year so they’ve got to stay on top of things.  The last book will be made into two films and it looks like Danny Strong has been hired on to write the screen adaptation.

Most may not know Strong’s name (I had to Google the guy myself) and the obscurity is even more pronounced when it comes to his resume of scriptwriting.  His credits are mostly acting, but the move to writing recently gained him two Emmys, so he can’t be all bad, right?   Fans will just have to wait and see what he does with it and cross their fingers that he remains true to the story.

If everything goes according to plan, the first part of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay will release on November 21, 2014 with the second installment coming November 20, 2015.

Thanks to /film for helping us spread the news.

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Every day the internet produces an astounding amount of goodies and gems. Most hilarious, some amusing, but all worth at least a few seconds of your time. We here at Nerd Bastards try to bring you the best bits of news and nerdery the webz has to offer, with a bit of snark thrown in. But sometimes not everything makes the cut. Monday through Friday we’ll be bringing you our inbox leftovers, our forgotten bookmarks, the nerdy bits that simply slipped through the cracks. You can submit items to Nerdy Bits by emailing us at nerdybits@nerdbastards.com.

ABOVE: R2D2 glass pipe. What the hell would you smoke with tha…..AHHH, never mind, wait, pass that over this way. [Etsy]

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Another day, another Catching Fire casting update.  Lionsgate  has announced another member to it’s Hunger Games sequel.

Drop Dead Diva actress Stephanie Leigh Schlund has been cast in the role of Cashmere. A former Career tribute from District 1, Cashmere and her brother Gloss are both competing in the Quarter Quell; an all-star death match.

Alright, so, according to Hunger Games Facebook thingy, that leaves 13 roles to be announced.  Bunch of tributes, and the long awaited announcement of Finnick. Jeeze, in just a few days, there wont be any more casting announcements. What on earth will we have to look forward to then? (note the sarcasm)

Here is the synopsis for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire:

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark.   Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts.  Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75^th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has sold more than 50 million books in print and digital in the U.S. alone.

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

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Lionsgate has announced yet another member of the cast for the upcoming Hunger Games sequel – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Actress and musician Maria Howell (who will also be a regular on JJ Abrams‘ new show Revolution) will play the role of Seeder, a victorious tribute from District 11 who competes in the Quarter Quell (the 75th Hunger Games). The press release did not confirm or deny this, but it is believed that the Quarter Quell will be on a tape delay, and that NBC will interrupt it with a show about a monkey.

Here is the synopsis for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Keep checking back here for any future Hunger Games casting notices. They still have the extras, craft services, and the location scouts to announce, because if you are associated with the Hunger Games in any way, you are getting a press release.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark.   Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts.  Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75^th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has sold more than 50 million books in print and digital in the U.S. alone.

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

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The next installment in the Hunger Games franchise, Catching Fire is getting ready to start shooting this fall and fans are eager for news as to who will be joining the cast for the new film.  In addition to making sure all the essential characters are on board to return, they have quite a few people to add.  So far, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amanda Plummer, Jena Malone and Lynn Cohen have all been confirmed.  The latest addition to the mix appears to be Patrick St. Esprit (Sons of Anarchy).

He will be taking on the role of Romulus Thread, Head Peacekeeper sent to maintain control in District 12 as the stirrings of revolution begin.  He has not been officially confirmed by Lionsgate, but from all reports it’s pretty much a done deal.

Thanks to CinemaBlend for the heads-up.

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We’ve got a bunch of news for y’all with regards to the film adaptations of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games novels.

There are a few casting rumors out there right now for Catching Fire.  It appears that Sam Claflin (Snow White & The Huntsman) is Lionsgate’s first choice for the role of Finnick Odair.  Melissa Leo and Tony Shalhoub might be up for the roles of Mags and Beetee, according to the word on the street.  It seems more definitive that Johanna Mason will be portrayed by Jena Malone and Philip Seymour Hoffman will play Plutarch Heavensbee.  Catching Fire will be released in November 2013 and production starts this fall.

Francis Lawrence, who is directing Catching Fire, may not return to do the two-parter of Mockingjay because the scheduling isn’t working out.  Collins and the other people working on the project are apparently already vetting other potential directors for the job.  Who d’you guys think would be able to work it?

Source: Variety, The Playlist

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