Last year was the release of a highly anticipated film: The Hunger Games
, based on the first novel in the popular trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The film is set in a dystopian future after some sort of civil war; the country is divided into twelve districts, each of which is required to volunteer one male and one female, teenagers, to participate in the annual Hunger Games: a battle royale, a fight to the death, until one victor emerges. Louisville favorite Jennifer Lawrence snagged the role of Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of the story, and her performance was received with great acclaim. It is a fantastic film, simultaneously exciting and thought-provoking as a commentary on aspects of American media culture. (My review can be found here.)
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the very first trailer (located below) for the second film in the trilogy:
. The film picks up with Katniss and her fellow victor, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), as they travel around the country on a Victor's Tour. Of course, Katniss is not the typical victor; she has heart and soul and social consciousness, and sinister government forces plot to use her to their advantage – or else destroy her.
Francis Lawrence takes over the directorial helm from Gary Ross, who directed the first film. Lawrence's previous work includes
Constantine, I Am Legend
, and
Water For Elephants.
The film also stars Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, to name a few.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
is scheduled for a release date of November 22. Be sure to tune in then for my thoughts and feelings towards the film.
(P.S. Check out this episode of the Movie Meltdown podcast including an exclusive interview with Jennifer Lawrence herself.)
Image: Internet Movie Database
