The Hunger Games DVD Still the Number 1 in the US

For the second time, The Hunger Games DVD reign over other DVD/Blu-ray releases in the U.S. According to LA Times,

Top 10 DVD and Blu-ray sales

1. “The Hunger Games” (Lionsgate). Week 2.
2. “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” (Universal). Week 3.
3. “The Dictator” (Paramount). Week 1.
4. “NCIS: The Ninth Season” (Paramount). Week 1.
5. “Dexter: The Sixth Season” (Paramount/Showtime). Week 2.
6. “Pocahontas/Pocahontas II” (Disney). Week 1.
7. “The Rescuers/The Rescuers Down Under” (Disney). Week 1.
8. “The Aristocats” (Disney). Week 1.
9. “House: Season 8″ (Universal) Week 1.
10. “Glee: The Complete Third Season” (Fox). Week 2.

Top 10 DVD and Blu-ray rentals

1. “The Hunger Games” (Lionsgate). Week 2.
2. “The Dictator” (Paramount). Week 1.
3. “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” (Universal). Week 3.
4. “Bernie” (Millinnium Media Services). Week 1.
5. “Lockout” (Sony). Week 6.
6. ”Freelancers” (Lionsgate). Week 1.
7. “American Reunion” (Universal). Week 7.
8. “Dexter: The Sixth Season” (Paramount). Week 2
9. “21 Jump Street” (Sony). Week 9.
10. “Silent House” (Universal). Week 5.

 If you wanted to grab a copy of The Hunger Games, you can always visit a local store or buy it online (be sure the store is legit like Amazon or Target).Hurry up before supplies last!

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Next Movie's Prediction of Key Scenes That Will be Included in Catching Fire

Nextmovie.com has recently published their prediction on the five key scenes that most likely be included in the film adaptation of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." Read on and tell me if you are looking forward to seeing those scenes too.

Beachside Arena Sequences

Many of the arena sequences in the Third Quarter Quell's Games take place within the cover of the jungle, but there are also a few key moments in or near water. The beginning of the Games, for instance, are totally water-based. Some ocean scenes can be done in-studio, of course, but it's not nearly as easy to conceal from the public eye a beach-side set (see the boat-line security Summit had to put together for the "Twilight: Breaking Dawn" set in Brazil, e.g.). So, there's a chance we might get to see moments like when Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin) are all recovering from the poisonous gas section of the clock-style arena. Or when Johanna (Jena Malone) evacuates Wiress (Amanda Plummer) and Beetee from the blood rain segment. Hawaiians, get your cameras readied just in case you stumble across some action.

On Location Vacations

Tribute Parade Party

The "Hunger Games" tribute parade was shot in-studio, so the actual scene itself might be kept well under wraps, but that doesn't mean we won't catch a castmate or two meandering around the Atlanta area in costume, especially if the various parties and events of the book get any play in the movie. Goodness help us if we just so happen to catch an early glimpse of Finnick in his, well, revealing get-up during that scene! Go ahead and just start staking out that Georgia Dome for us, would ya?

Train Scenes and Visiting the Districts

In the beginning of the story, Katniss and Peeta are still victors, so they are sent to dutifully tour the districts of Panem (all the while dealing with the looming threat of President Snow's watchful eye). One of the perks of working in Atlanta is that the city already has a modern monorail system in place, so perhaps locals will spot their trusty trains being used for the movie. All aboard!

Public Square Beating

Poor Gale (Liam Hemsworth) has a rough go in "Catching Fire." After he and Katniss romp around in the woods and snare up a wild turkey, the newly toughened peacekeepers decide to make an example of him and whip him within an inch of his life. Even Katniss takes a lashing across the cheek in order to stop the madness. Not only is the scene an outdoor one (in the District 12 town square), but it's also heavily populated with frightened onlookers from the Seam, so there's definitely a chance someone'll catch a look at that moment as well.

Town of Hildebran

Destroyed District 12

The most common early spottings of "The Hunger Games" in production were of various set constructions — Mellark's Bakery, for example. At the tail end of "Catching Fire," Katniss learns that the place she once begrudgingly called home was destroyed while she was out fending off ravenous monkeys and soul-crushing jabberjays. Eagle-eyed as "Hunger Games" fans are, we predict someone may just sleuth out this set of destruction too.

Are there any other scenes or set locations you think might make it to the public eye this fall during filming for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"? Fire away with your own predictions in the comments below.

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Trish Summerville is "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire's Costume Designer

EW has reported that Trish Summerville (Dragon Tattoo) will be the costume designer for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire."

EW has also shared us Trish Summerville's work:

After successfully transforming Rooney Mara into Lisbeth Salander, wardrobe designer Trish Summerville has signed on to oversee the costumes for the Hunger Games sequel.

Fans of the Suzanne Collins book know that Summerville — who started her career as a costume assistant on films like Girl, Interrupted and later served as personal stylist to Christina Aguilera  – will be responsible for conjuring up Katniss’ wedding dress, which looks at first to be standard issue bridal attire but eventually goes up in flames to reveal a feathered (and winged) mockingjay gown.

Summerville’s heroine chic costumes for the 2011 adaptation of Dragon Tattoo earned her an award from Hollywood’s Costume Designers Guild and the opportunity to create a spinoff clothing collection for H&M. No word on whether the film stylist a fan of the Hunger Games series, but judging from the photo below, she’s clearly no stranger to the side braid.

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Catching Fire Cast Tweets Confirm Cameras will Start Rolling in Georgia, Atlanta Soon!

Our friends from Mockingjay.net was able to catch that Sam Claflin, who will play Finnick in Catching Fire, is already in Atlanta, Georgia. By the way, for those who don't know, there are news that Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) and Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) were already there but no one knows if Liam Hemsworth has arrived there or not. Anyway, here is Sam Claflin's tweet. He is not really saying directly that he is in Atlanta but Twitter was able to know where he is. So, there you go.

On the other hand, Maria Howell, who will play District 11's Seeder, also tweets that she is in Seeder mode for Catching Fire. Thanks to hungergamestrilogy.net.

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Distreal Seals & Mockingjay Buttons from Hot Topi

I just saw a set of buttons/pins of the 12 districts of Panem and the mockingjay symbol at Hot Topic today. These are really amazing to add in our Hunger Games collections. I hope Lionsgate will also be able to release the District 13 seal soon especially if they decide to have a sneak peek of it in preparation for Mockingjay.

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The Hunger Games Nominated at the 2012 Artios Awards by the Casting Society of America

The Hunger Games was able to secure a nomination (‘Big Budget Feature – Drama’) for this year's Artios Award by the Casting Society of America. According to THR:

Awards in 22 categories, including film, television and theater will be handed out at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the XL Nightclub, Cabaret and Lounge in New York. Honorees for the career achievement, Hoyt Bowers and the New York Apple awards will be announced in coming weeks.

Winners will be announced on Oct. 29, 2012.

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Dayo Okeniyi Revealed the District 11 Reaping Scene

Fearnet has an exclusive interview with Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh) wherein the actor talked about the Reaping scene in District 11 that was not included on the final version of "The Hunger Games."  Find out more by reading the excerpt below.

Gary shot a pretty lean movie but did you have any scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut?

    All the scenes I shot made it into the movie except we actually shot a Reaping scene for District 11 which was really cool. We had a guest director, Steven Soderbergh, who came in and oversaw that. It was cool to get a chance to work with him because he’s a director I’ve admired for years. It was a cool scene because it was all of District 11 and we had our mentor come out and reap us. It was a very sad scene. And the extras were incredible, the unsung heroes of movies because they create an environment for you. I’d look into the eyes of these people who were supposed to be your best friends, your neighbors, your co-workers and they would feed you that feeling of loss when you get reaped. Hopefully, if they do a 20th anniversary edition of The Hunger Games they can include that in the DVD someday.


Were you hyper prepared for the [audition] read?

    It was super secretive. I couldn’t tell anybody about, not even my parents. I went in and read and it was just one page. I tell you, my roommate and I went to the same college together and is also an actor so he was the only person I told and we must have read that one page 50 to 100 times. It was like five lines but I practiced it in every possible way. So I felt very confident going into the audition. Also my managers sent me in because they know Debra Zane very well and they just wanted to see how I did in the room. But it led to me getting the role and I’m very aware that it doesn’t happen for people like that. I kind of have survivor’s guilt. [Laugh]
 

The film doesn’t glamorize the violence which makes it more horrific to watch the death scenes. What was Gary’s mandate about the combat scenes?

    In the scene between Thresh and Clove (Isabelle Fuhrman), it’s a very quick scene. It’s not very choreographed because Gary wanted it to look dirty. He didn’t want it to look like a Japanese movie where the fighting is like a dance. He wanted it to look rough and you feel like the characters in those scenes are reacting from passion rather than calculating assassins. We were tied in very well to these character’s heads and I think it translated well.

 When you watched the final film, what scene really got to you?

    Honestly, with a character like [District 2 Career] Cato (Alexander Ludwig) it’s scary easy to make that character a cookie-cutter, bad guy archetype. The scene at the end where he says, “I’m already finished anyway,” to humanize that character to me was gold. A villain isn’t really a villain until you see some bit of humanity in him. You can look at a demon or something that is pure evil and watch them commit atrocities and you don’t feel anything because it’s not human. But to see a human being do things like that hits close to home. Seeing Cato humanized like that, it really makes you feel like if I grew up like that, would I be like that? When I saw that it made me think back on everything Cato had done leading up to that moment. Even though he’s got a twisted, psychotic purpose, it is a purpose and you somewhat empathize with him. That was amazing filmmaking to me and moments like that gave me chills.

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Sam Claflin is Our Official Finnick Odair in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

After the very long await of who the heck Finnick is, we can now put down the rumor mill shut as Lionsgate has now announced the lucky actor who will play the most coveted role in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." Our official Finnick Odair is Sam Claflin. He was one of the actors who are in the pool of the never-ending Finnick Odair casting craze. Weeks ago, there were already entertainment sites claiming that Sam is the frontrunner but we didn't believe that totally until Lionsgate comes up with the official statement. But anyway, congratulations to Sam Claflin for getting the role! Welcome to the Hunger Games family. (P.S., I hope you are getting yourself ready because a lot of Hunger Games fans will shower you with affection and attention!) I can't wait to see you in your costume in the Tribute Parade for the Third Quarter Quell!

Lionsgate's official press release:

 

Santa Monica, CA, August 22, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Sam Claflin has been cast in the role of Finnick in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire. Charasmatic and clever, Finnick was a District 4 Hunger Games victor when he was fourteen.

About Sam Claflin:

After breaking out in his role as the romantic lead in last year’s PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, Claflin starred in the box office smash SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN playing Prince William alongside Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth.   He recently finished filming THE QUIET ONES opposite Jarred Harris, and MARY & MARTHA,  in which he co-stars with Hilary Swank.

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.

Ongoing casting news and information for the film can be found at: www.CatchingFireCasting.com

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The Hunger Games Movie and Special Features in Digital Copies

If you are looking for licensed digital copies of The Hunger Games movie and its special features, you are in the right spot. You can order the digital copies of "The Hunger Games" as well as some exclusive interviews and behind the scenes in making and promoting the movie anywhere and anytime you want without the need of carrying your DVD/Blu-ray player. These copies are compatible with MAC (iPhone/iPad, iPod, etc.), Windows PCs, TiVo, and other online streaming devices. For more device compatibility, click here. You may also download the legit and licensed copies of digital videos on your Windows PC but you need to be connected to the internet to watch them. Find out more here.

The Hunger Games
Price: 24 HR Rent $3.99; Buy Movie $14.99




The Hunger Games: Cast Interviews
Runtime: 7 minutes

Director Gary Ross and cast members Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz and Donald Sutherland discuss the box office phenomenon.

The Hunger Games Featurettes: Casting

Runtime: 15 minutes

"The Hunger Games: Casting"- Take an in-depth look into the casting process for The Hunger Games. Hear what the creators have to say about the casting of fan favorite characters. "The Hunger Games: May The Odds"- Experience the anticipation and excitement leading up to the blockbuster release with the filmmakers ...

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Catching Fire Fan-Made Character Posters (Totally Amazing)

Here are different Catching Fire character posters made by amazing fans! Most of them were from my favorite Nikola-Nickart. This guy is really talented. If I'm not mistaken he's from Germay. You can also follow him in Deviant Art.

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Maria Howell on Her Role as Seeder in Catching Fire

Maria Howell, who was recently cast as District 11 victor Seeder, talked to NC Hollywood about her participation in Catching Fire.

 “I knew for close to two weeks now,” Howell told us via telephone, “but I was sworn to secrecy and couldn’t say anything about it until they said something, and today was the day.”

    She said it was “difficult like I don’t know what” to keep quiet for so long, but was happy to express her enthusiasm for the role now that the news is out.

    “I’m excited about it,” said Howell, “because it’s a part that I hope is going to spread the spectrum of what I can do. Sometimes you can get into a certain kind of role and people try to pigeonhole you. I never really wanted to be pigeonholed. I’ve always wanted to be more of a character actor in the sense that the world is wide open for all the different things that I can do. Revolution was the start of that.”

My thoughts? Hmm probably Finnick Odair is already cast but Lionsgate didn't announce it yet because they are still busy promoting the Hunger Games DVD. But I really got this feeling that he will be cast soon. I hope before September ends.

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VIDEO: Liam Hemsworth on Catching Fire, Peeta-Katniss-Gale Triangle and a Lot More

Liam Hemsworth talked recently about Catching Fire and the Peeta-Katniss-Gale triangle to Good Morning America (GMA). Watch the video below and find out more.

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Jesse Williams Confirms He's Not Finnick

If you are following the Finnick Odair casting rumor craze, you probably know that Jesse Williams is one of the fan favorites. Now, for those who are in favor of Jessie as Finnick, you might want to get ready to accept this disappointment. In his tweet, Jesse said that the ship for the Finnick Odair thing has already sailed.

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Josh Hutcherson: Catching Fire is Very True to the Book

Yahoo! Movies has an exclusive interview with Josh Hutcherson in which Josh talks about Catching Fire, Peeta, and the Hunger Games DVD. Here's an excerpt from that interview.

About the Joining the Hunger Games Franchise

"I was really nervous about it to be honest," Hutcherson said about embarking on the film franchise, based on a trilogy of best-selling books by Suzanne Collins. "It's crazy because living up to 'The Hunger Games' coming out, everybody was talking about how it's going to change everything, your whole life -- it's going to be so different," he explained. "I like my life! I didn't want that to happen and it didn't... I'm still me and I'm still doing my normal things that I have always done."

About fans

While Hutcherson says everything has been going smoothly for him post-"Games," there was one jarring fan experience he opened the door to -- literally. "I had a couple of fans who showed at my doorstep in Kentucky," he said, adding that they arrived the day after Christmas last year. "They just wanted to meet me and say 'hi.' They were freaking out and crying.  They drove eight hours on the chance that I might be home...  That was intense.  I was like, 'Whoa!  This is my home in Kentucky.  Why are you here?'  It was crazy.  There are some crazy fans out there."

About the Hunger Games DVD

 "[It is] a very up-close and personal look into what it was like throughout the entire process, from start to finish of turning the book into a movie," Hutcherson said, being coy about further details. (The film is also available for digital download August 18.)

About Catching Fire

"I'm so excited it's finally here, the time to start making it is finally here. I can't wait to get shooting." Given that a script didn't exist just a few short months ago, it's hard to believe everything is, in fact, prepped. But it is, according to Hutcherson: "I do have a script in hand and it's awesome.  I love it so much," Hutcherson confirmed, revealing that he met with newly-installed director Francis Lawrence ("I Am Legend," 2007, "Water for Elephants," 2011) to discuss the film's vision. "We talked about how important it was to really make the movie version of the book and that was Francis's goal from day one -- and the script definitely portrays that.  It's a very true-to-the-book rendition of the movie."

His Catching Fire Training

The physicality required to play Peeta is still as rigorous for the sequel. "I've been working out a lot, getting back in the right shape for the role -- because this last year, I sort of split my time and enjoyed myself -- so I've been paying for that for the last month-and-a-half or so, getting back into the gym and eating healthy," Hutcherson said.

Peeta-Katniss-Gale Love Triangle

When it comes to the ensuing love triangle depicted in "Catching Fire" between Peeta, Katniss (Lawrence) and Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Hutcherson happily anticipates the challenge: "It's such a tough position that I know Peeta is put in where he is in absolute love with this girl and she acts like she's in love with him, but he knows that she isn't -- and that is heartbreaking. As an actor, it's something that I'm really excited play because it's such a a conflicting emotion... It's a very conflicting, confusing kind of thing and I can't wait to play it out.  It's really, really intense and exciting, I think."

About Peeta

"Peeta is a little bit of a wrong place, wrong time kind of guy and he kind of gets hurt a little bit," Hutcherson says with a laugh. "I think that it's good to have a female hero who can step up because that's real. It's not always the girl that gets hurt in the story and the man has to protect her. That's not how it works.  So it's cool to have a different take on that."

Hutcherson appears to be well aware that the sky is the limit: "It's been an amazing ride and it's only just beginning, so it's very, very exciting."

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Willow Shields Talks Prim, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and Team Katniss with Twist Magazine

Twist has talked to Willow Shields wherein the young actress talks about her interest in playing Prim, bonding with actors on set and a lot more. Read the following excerpt below:

TWIST: What’s your favorite thing about Prim?

WS: I really loved that she loves animals so much, because I really love animals, too. I have three dogs, a cat and fish. I also used to have chickens, so you can see how much I love animals.

TWIST: Was it hard to get into such an emotional place for the reaping scene?

WS: Not really. Once you get into character and once you have such incredible actors and actresses like Jennifer Lawrence and Elizabeth Banks around you, that really makes it a lot easier.

TWIST: Did you grow close to any of the actors who won’t be returning to set?

WS: Yeah, I really grew close with a lot of the tributes ’cause we were actually there at the same time. I grew really close to Amandla Stenberg, who plays Rue, Jacqueline Emerson, who plays Foxface and Isabelle Fuhrman, who plays Clove. I’m really sad that they’re not coming back, but I’m also excited to work with new people.

TWIST: After playing Katniss’ sister, do you feel like a sister to Jennifer Lawrence?

WS: Definitely. We’re totally like sisters. We had so much fun on set together and we bonded right away.

TWIST: Team Gale or Team Peeta?

WS: I’m team Katniss. Everyone thinks of the book being such a romance and thinks that there’s such a huge love triangle, but I don’t think of it that way. I think of Katniss fighting for her family and being a strong character for young girls.

TWIST: When do you start work on Catching Fire? What can you tell us about it?

WS: I’m gonna be starting work on it this fall and I’m looking forward to it so much.

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