Elizabeth Banks on Effie's Costume in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

In an interview with The Advocate, Elizabeth Banks was able to gush about Effie's costumes and wigs  in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Here's an excerpt of the interview:

Have you ever played a lesbian?
I don’t think I have — although Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games might be gay. My vision of the Capitol is pansexual like ancient Rome, where everybody’s doing everybody.

Any chance she’s a drag queen?
I’ve actually thought about that. I think Suzanne Collins created the character to be nurturing and mothering in her own way, so she’s probably a woman. But I definitely saw a lot of drag Effies last Halloween in West Hollywood!

Are Effie’s wigs and outfits in Catching Fire even more outrageous than in the first film?
They really are. We relied a lot on Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen for the costuming, so there’s some amazing, handmade, one-of-a-kind couture. I feel so honored to have worn these pieces of art.

Effie’s serving Nicki Minaj meets Frenchy from Grease in Catching Fire promo photos.
There’s some of that, true, but she changes quite a bit and has a more varied palette this time around. You haven’t seen her more fabulous stuff yet.

What advice would you give a guy who wanted to dress up as Elizabeth Banks for Halloween?
Just look really tired and maybe stick a baby on your hip. That should do it. I’m an exhausted mom with two very young children, so I’m not very fabulous right now. But Halloween is one of my favorite holidays; I’m a pagan at heart.

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Lionsgate Partners With Subway Restaurants for Catching Fire

In a press release, Lionsgate has partnered with restaurant chain Subway for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." The partnership will involve promotional materials of the movie to be displayed at several Subway restaurants for the benefit of the charitable institution Feeding America.

SUBWAY® restaurants, the world’s largest restaurant chain, and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, today announced that SUBWAY® will be the exclusive restaurant promotional destination for the film “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” the highly anticipated second installment of the global blockbuster “The Hunger Games” film franchise.  “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” will open in theaters worldwide on November 22. SUBWAY® and Lionsgate will utilize their promotion to support Feeding America, a non-profit organization consisting of more than 200 food banks nationwide.

    SUBWAY® restaurants in the U.S. and Canada will be fired up in anticipation of the film’s release, with a number of promotional assets planned for in-store, social, online, and broadcast. A special product line will be featured with thematic ties to the film, along with specially marked packaging with codes encouraging customers to engage online for their chance to win prizes. SUBWAY® customers can also pose with their favorite character’s standees in the restaurants and are invited to share photos on social media for additional chances to win.

    “There’s nothing hotter than ‘The Hunger Games’ franchise,” said Michelle Cordial, Director of Marketing Development for SUBWAY® restaurants. “Being able to deliver exclusive ‘Catching Fire’ experiences to our Subway fans is something that Hunger Games enthusiasts can’t find anywhere else.”

    “With SUBWAY joining as a promotional partner for ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,’ Lionsgate has found new ways to reach a larger audience of fans of the film franchise,” said Paula Kupfer, Vice President of Promotions and Consumer Products for Lionsgate.  “Beyond providing fans with unique film experiences, what makes this promotion truly special to the studio is our ability to work with SUBWAY to support Feeding America and help provide to those in need.”

    “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, from a screenplay by Simon Beaufoy and Michael DeBruyn, based upon the novel “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins and produced by Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik.

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Donald Sutherland: Working With Jennifer Lawrence is a Dream

Donald Sutherland, who resumes his role as the tyrant leader President Snow, has expressed his appreciation in working with Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games franchise.

"'Hunger Games,' it's about the oligarchy of privilege. And to be able to participate in the struggle against that is everything that my heart would desire. And then, above and beyond that, to have the honor and delight of working with Jennifer, she's a dream to work with. She's a dream. She's a dream. I love that child."

Source

Are you excited to see Catching Fire this November?

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Mockingjay Casting Rumors: Jodie Foster/Julianne Moore for President Coin

News has it that veteran actress Julianne Moore is in talks to play the role of District 13 leader Alma Coin, who will soon appear in Mockingjay. It was also reported that the role was once offered to Jodie Foster, also an award-winning actress.

Jodie Foster

Julianne Moore

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Jennifer Lawrence Won Saturn Award for Best Actress for The Hunger Games

Jennifer Lawrence won the Saturn Award for Best Actress for her role as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. Congrats Jen and to the rest of THG fandom. For more the full list of winners, click here.

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New The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Feature will be at the San Diego Comic Con

According to an official press release, Lionsgate will present an exclusive clip of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) in San Diego, California. Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta), and Sam Claflin (Finnick) will be there to present the new material.

For more information,visit the press release here.

UPDATE:  The booth for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire at the SDCC will be at Hall H at 1:35 to 2: 35 pm.

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Josh Hutcherson Talks The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with Ryan Seacrest

In a recent interview with Ryan Seacrest, Josh Hutcherson shared his experiences in working with Jennifer Lawrence, kissing her, and Peeta and Katniss' relationship in Catching Fire.

On Catching Fire's plot and working with other actors:

“I think in [Catching Fire] the story kind of opens up a lot. There’s a lot more interesting plots that start to develop and everything kind of thickens and we sort of just up the overall feel of the movie.”

“I mean, we kept the same idea of the first with the whole world,” Josh adds. “But we kind of bumped it up a little and made it a little more immersive, but it’s really great. [And] we stayed true to the book as always.”

“We got some amazing actors to come in [like] Philip Seymour Hoffman. It was pretty incredile to work with all these guys.”

On Peeta and Katniss' relationship:

“I can’t divulge any kind of plot details, but it’s up and down. Katniss and Peeta’s relationship is very complicated. It has a lot of little things that need to be worked out, but it’s good. People, I think, will be very satisfied with it.”

On kissing Jennifer Lawrence:

And speaking of on-screen relationships, Josh dished on what it’s like to kiss someone for “work.”

“I’d say there’s a natural stirring that happens in your body,” the actor laughs. “If you’re in the moment and you’re in the scene, then naturally whatever naturally happens is what’s supposed to happen.”

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