The first teaser trailer for Francis Lawrence‘s follow-up to last years summer blockbuster The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has hit the Internet. The first film left our heroes victorious in the 74th Hunger Games, but the social unrest is reaching a boiling point in the 12 districts.

President Snow is not pleased, and he has a plan to crush the rebellious tendencies of the districts, the Quarter Quell. Gather up all the past champions and send them into the Hunger Games Arena once more.

The surviving cast members have returned to reprise their respective roles. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, and Willow Shields are all back, with the affition of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Lynn Cohen, Meta Golding, Amanda Plummer and Jeffrey Wright.

Take a look and let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE is 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 over 50 million copies in print in the U.S. alone. THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE opens on November 22, 2013.

Via: /Film

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As a nice tie-in with the opening events of The Hunger Games‘ sequel, Catching Fire, which feature the winners of the 74th Hunger Games parading through the districts on a victory tour, Lionsgate have released these victory portraits of Elizabeth Banks’ Effie Trinket, Stanley Tucci’s Caesar Flickerman, Woody Harrelson‘s Haymitch Abernathy, Lenny Kravitz’s Cinna, and of course, Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss.

UPDATE! The Hob has unveiled the portrait of Beetee (Jeffrey Wright).

UPDATE #2! Moviefone shared the portrait of Johanna (Jena Malone).

UPDATE #3! ET Online has finally released two of the most eagerly awaited portraits, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and Gale (Liam Hemsworth).

UPDATE #4! Ladies and gentlemen, the latest portrait has been released via MTV and it’s sure to have fans everywhere swooning, Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin).

UPDATE #5! Another portrait hits the web via Yahoo! Movies, this one of President Snow (Donald Sutherland),

I think they’re stunning, what do you think? And is that Katniss’ Mockingjay dress or another?

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 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

Directed by Francis Lawrence and also starring Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, 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, and Sam Claflin.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens November 22nd, 2013.

We’ll update as more portraits are released!

Source: Geek Tyrant

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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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I feel like I just got socks for Christmas. After waiting and waiting and waiting for October 19th, it finally came tonight — albeit 3 and a half months too late — and new showrunners David Guarascio and Moses Port did disappoint, delivering the AT&T of Community episodes.

They Britta’d it people, throwing a garbage pale full of pop culture crumbs at the screen in an effort to Harmon-ize the show. Honestly, I’m really glad that Guarascio and Port probably spent a weekend watching season 3 on Hulu a couple of days before they made this episode, but did they have to try and make this feel like a tribute collage?

There are movie references (The Hunger Games, an utter failure and inexplicably absent any mention of Starburns’ nefarious facial hair. Inexcusable.), an animated Muppet Babies segment, a mockery of laugh track sitcoms (at least, I think it was supposed to be mockery), and a well deserved attack on chunky glasses, because the show runners decided that they must die, even though they make girls look 9% hotter and they really pull my look together.

As for the viewer response, from what I saw on Twitter during the show, it was mixed. Some superfans seemed to take pleasure in seeing these characters again, but others were underwhelmed.

I feel bad for the superfans. I’ve come to “know” some of them online, a great group who worked tirelessly setting up flashmobs and other events like Communicon. These people have become a well-meaning cult that worships this show, and I mean that in the best sense, not the sense that implies some sort of mental defect. Frankly, they deserved better.

Personally, I think it was a poor imitation of a Community episode, and while imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the flattery part falls short when someone is living in your house, wearing your clothes, and trying to be you. And while I’ve finally accepted that Dan Harmon’s Community is dead, I do believe that this show can still live and be worthwhile if the producers stop trying to court fans with awkward poses and instead, try to make them laugh and put out a good TV show.

Right now though, I am skeptical that they’ll have the guts to push this show away from it’s comfort zone, even though episode 1 of this unfortunate experiment seems to indicate that they really can’t find that comfort zone with a flashlight, a map, and ample prayer.

It’s simple, Community gained attention for the impossibly intelligent way that it spoofed pop culture, but in the first episode of a new era, the show went unintentionally meta and spoofed it’s past self in the most in-artful way. So far, this is #ThreeSeasonsAndACatastrophe

Best:

- Um… everyone looked like they took care of themselves over the hiatus. That’s good, right?

- It was only 22 minutes long.

- Dan Harmon is working on 3 new TV shows.

Worst:

- The end bit with Troy and Abed in drag made me contort my face and understand that this is the darkest timeline.

-Catatonic Abed was criminal and showed that the producers don’t get the magic of a character that is — arguably — the most important character on the show. This episode was written by Andy Bobrow, who also wrote “Basic Rocket Science” and “Pillows and Blankets”, proving that either he had a really bad week, or that Bobrow without Harmon is as worthless as saltines without Orangina. I really like Orangina. Harmon is Orangina, because that fizzy citrus drink makes everything better. I just killed this analogy, y’all.

- Dean Pelton and Jeff as almost-roomies. Hilarity shall not ensue.

Be sure to look out for this weeks episode of The Bastardcast, where I and Jeremy R! Hudson further examine this week’s episode of Community. 

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Lionsgate has released a teaser poster for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and it doesn’t hurt the franchise that it’s star, Jennifer Lawrence just received the Best Actress Golden Globe for her role in Silver Linings Playbook. You can expect to see “Golden Globe winner” in most of the upcoming marketing for Catching Fire. There are also some production stills worth taking a look at below.

Katniss and Petra on their celebration tour that goes bad quickly.

Katniss and Fennick getting a little together time before the games begin.

Katniss and Gayle, not sure where in the story this scene is, most likely District Twelve, perhaps before Gayle is punished for trying to sell that turkey to the new Peace Keeper.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is directed by Francis Lawrence and starring 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. The movie hits theater screens on November 22nd.

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 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

Via: Comingsoon

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Filming on the set of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in Hawaii has begun and thanks to Katniss and Peeta we’ve got new stills of Jennifer Lawrence and crew, sporting brand new skin-tight arena wear.There’s lots to check out in the photo set below.

You can see the starting point pedestal that has been constructed just off the beach. Jennifer Lawrence , Josh Hutcherson , Lynn Cohen (and her stunt double) and Sam Claflin were on set yesterday to film the Hunger Games Cornucopia scene. One picture shows Finnick (Sam Claflin) rescuing Peeta (Josh Hutcherson).

What do you think about the new suits? We’ll bring you more as filming and production progresses.

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Lionsgate has released a (slightly) spiffy animated poster for it’s Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire. It was unlocked by HG fans on Facebook. Apparently, if you creep FB long enough, you get an animated logo for a teaser of a teaser of a trailer of a trailer…

OMG guys, it’s a logo, let’s check it out right fucking now!

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Word is that Lionsgate has locked in Francis Lawrence to go straight from directing The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, to directing the series’ two-part finales, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (Release date: November 21, 2014), and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (Release date: November 20, 2015).

It makes a lot of sense both financially and creatively to keep Lawrence in charge and not incur the extra cost of bringing another director up to speed on the project, not to mention maintaining a cohesive vision for the franchise. Imagine the difference if The Dark Knight Rises had been directed by someone other than Christopher Nolan.

So for the next three years Lawrence and crew will be eating, drinking, and breathing The Hunger Games franchise. It’s a pretty big job and there will be a lot of juggling of deadlines and duties to not only finish production on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, but also start production on the first Mockingjay movie. Hopefully by the time it’s time to do it all over again between the two Mockingjay movies, Lawrence and crew will have the process down pat.

Any thoughts on the subject? Let us know in the comments section below.

Via: /Film

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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: They’re at it again — the fine folks at All C’s Collectibles in Aurora, Colorado are continuing in their crusade to help the victims of the Aurora Theater tragedy with Aurora Rise. This time they had J. Scott Campbell on hand for a signing at their shop and according to the Aurora Rise Facebook page (which you should absolutely like) they raised over $900 for the victims. To learn more about the Aurora Rise cause and how you can help, go to AuroraRise.org.

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The casting for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is just about complete with the announcement of the casting of Jeffrey Wright. Wright will play District 3 tribute Beetee, known by the nickname Volts due to his incredible electronics talents.

Wright is best known for his work in the play Angels in America, in which he earned a Tony Award. He later reprised the role in the HBO miniseries, adding a Golden Globe and an Emmy to his mantel of awards. You’ve also most likely seen him in Basquiat, Source Code, Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace, W, Syriana, and Cadillac Records.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hits theater screens on November 22nd, 2013.

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