‘Hunger Games’ Sequel to Film in Hawaii
“Catching Fire,” the 2013 sequel to “The Hunger Games,” started principal photography yesterday in Atlanta. The film will then be shot on location in the beaches and jungles of Hawaii before wrapping in late December.
Last month, Reel Hawaii reported that filming would take place on Oahu, not on Kauai as previously rumored, beginning as soon as November.
According to Lionsgate, “Catching Fire” will be released worldwide on November 22, 2013, and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Jeffrey Wright, with Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland.
“We are so excited to be embarking on this adventure with Francis Lawrence, who has already exhibited immense creative vision and resourcefulness in casting the film and planning its look and feel,” Said Lionsgate’s President of Production Eric Feig. “The stakes are raised in every way in this second story, and we are thrilled to get the production underway in these perfect locations, with our excellent returning cast and some world class actors in new roles.”
Lionsgate also announces a global set visit sweepstakes. “Catching Fire: Win a Trip to Set” will run through October 12, 2012, offering twelve lucky fans a chance to visit the set of the film and interact the with cast and crew. To enter, fans based in the participating territories (the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Scandinavia, Russia, Israel, and Japan) will upload a :30 second video of their top question for the film’s cast. Additionally, “virtual” citizens of Panem will be able to enter by playing “The Hunger Games Adventures,” one of the top adventure games on Facebook and coming soon to iPad. Full rules and regulations are posted at www.catchingfiresweeps.com.
“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.
Full information about the film’s cast is available at www.catchingfirecasting.com.
“Catching Fire” will be directed by 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 first installment of “The Hunger Games” film series, based on the bestselling novels by Suzanne Collins, has already grossed more than $408 million at the North American box office and nearly $700 million at the box office worldwide. The books have already surpassed “Harry Potter” as the top-selling book series of all time on Amazon, taking into account print and Kindle sales combined. There are more than 50 million copies of “The Hunger Games” in print in the U.S. alone.
On DVD and Blu-ray, “Hunger Games” sold an estimated 3.8 million units in its first weekend of release, continuing the momentum it demonstrated at the North American box office, the 13th highest grossing North American release of all time.
Following the release of “Catching Fire” next November, the final installments, “Mockingjay Part I” and “Mockingjay Part II” are scheduled for respective November 21, 2014 and November 20, 2015 releases.
Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales.
