“The Hunger Games popped up, which seemed like a really interesting thing. Different — and different catches my attention in a way that’s like, ‘Oh, I can’t ever pass up a chance to do something different.’ So that deal’s not even closed, it may not even happen, but we’re well along with that.”

Danny Elfman’s recent Q&A at Buzzine. Thanks to The Hob for the info!

I Would be more than thrilled if this happened!  How about the rest of you?

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HUNGER GAMES Movie Official Press Release:

THE HUNGER GAMES SNARES ITS PEETA AND GALE

Pivotal Roles In The Lionsgate® Film Based On Suzanne Collins’ Runaway Bestselling Novel Go To Talented Young Actors Josh Hutcherson And Liam Hemsworth

LOS ANGELES, CA, April 4, 2011- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES are pleased to announce that actor Josh Hutcherson (THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT) has been cast in the role of Peeta Mellark, with Liam Hemsworth (THE LAST SONG) joining the film in the role of Gale Hawthorne in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel. Both actors will star opposite Jennifer Lawrence, who it was recently announced will play heroine Katniss Everdeen. About The CharactersPeeta accompanies heroine Katniss Everdeen into the 74^th annual Hunger Games as the male tribute chosen from their native District 12, the most remote and marginalized district of all the subjugated districts of Panem.  At the outset of the Games, Peeta publicly confesses his longtime feelings for Katniss, setting up one of the most fascinating fictional rapports of all time with his supposed arena rival. Though Katniss and Gale have never had a romantic relationship, they share a transcendent bond, often of few words. When Katniss volunteers to participate in the 74^th Annual Hunger Games in her younger sister’s stead, they both presume that bond will carry her far through the horrors she will face in the arena, and they each silently hope they’ll be reunited in safety on the other side of the ordeal. About The FilmTHE HUNGER GAMES will be directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik.  Collins’ best-selling novel, which has over 3 million copies in print in the United States alone, is the first in a trilogy of science fiction/action novels which have developed a global following. “The Hunger Games” chronicles a dystopic Capitol which requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl, forced to participate in the annual “Hunger Games,” a fight-to-the-death live televised event.  Katniss Everdeen’s little sister is chosen in the lottery to participate and Katniss volunteers to take her place.  Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home.  The Hunger Games novel has been on the New York Timesbest seller list for over 100 consecutive weeks. Foreign rights for the book, published by Scholastic have been sold in 41 countries. Lionsgate will release “The Hunger Games” on March 23, 2012.

Lets try to stay optimistic in the comments, how do we fell about this news?

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Production update for “THE HUNGER GAMES” –
COLOR FORCE / LUDUS PRODUCTIONS INC.
STATUS: May 23
LOCATION: Wilmington, North Carolina
PRODUCER: Nina Jacobson – Robin Bissell
WRITER: Billy Ray – Gary Ross
DIRECTOR: Gary Ross
LP: John Kilik
PM: Louise Rosner
CAST: Jennifer Lawrence

….  Working title “Artemis” / Release date March 23, 2012. / May 23 – August 3)

So that means “Artemis” (AKA Hunger Games) will begin shooting May 23 in Wilmington, North Carolina.  This is from a good source but even so, information could change or be false.  Either way, I am glade to here this news!

Source: Larry Richman , @larry411

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Hunger Games News is featured just after the Robert Pattinson interview.

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Well, now, according to THR‘s “insiders,” the selection has narrowed because testing for the role of Katniss’ Hunger Games co-Tribute, Peeta, happened today and they’ve got the list of guys who are in contention.
First off, there are the much-talked-about potentials, Josh Hutcherson, Lucas Till andHunter Parrish. While Hutcherson has been a personal top choice since the start, with Lawrence leading as Katniss, he’s feeling far less like a proper fit. The same goes for Till just in terms of looks alone; they may both be 20-years-old, but Till has a far younger look. Parrish, on the other hand, could be a winner visually and talent-wise.   Apparently Evan Peters of ‘Kick-Ass’ and Alexander Ludwig of ‘Escape to Witch Mountain’ are very much in the running as well. The drawback with these two, from our perspective at least, is that they don’t have a big body of work.

Apparently Liam Hemsworth, David Henrie, Robbie Amell,Drew Roy and maybe even more are being considered.

Source: THR, moviefone.com

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ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When did you know Jennifer Lawrence was your Katniss?
GARY ROSS: First I saw Winter’s Bone, and I just thought she was phenomenally talented and just kind of riveting and amazing and had so much power. And then we had a meeting and I found her to be just a completely compelling, intelligent person. But then she came in and read for me and it just knocked me out. I don’t want to go into too many details, but we did a scene from the movie and it was so amazingly powerful that it was sort of stunning. You glimpsed every aspect of the role and the potential of the whole movie.

There’s already quite a bit of hand-wringing that, no matter how good an actress Lawrence is, at 20 she’s simply too old for the role.
First of all I talked to Suzanne extensively about this. Suzanne saw every single audition. And not only did Suzanne not have an issue with Jen’s age, she felt you need someone of a certain maturity and power to be Katniss. This is a girl who needs to incite a revolution. We can’t have an insubstantial person play her, and we can’t have someone who’s too young to play this. Suzanne was incredibly adamant about this. Far from being too old, she was very concerned that we would cast someone who was too young. In Suzanne’s mind, and in mine, Katniss is not a young girl. It’s important for her to be a young woman. She’s a maternal figure in her family. She’s had to take care of Prim and in many ways her mother since her father’s death. She’s had to grow up pretty quick.

In the books, Katniss is described as being olive-skinned, dark-haired, possibly biracial. Did you discuss with Suzanne the implications of casting a blonde, caucasian girl?
Suzanne and I talked about that as well. There are certain things that are very clear in the book. Rue is African-American. Thresh is African-American. Suzanne had no issues with Jen playing the role. And she thought there was a tremendous amount of flexibility. It wasn’t doctrine to her. Jen will have dark hair in the role, but that’s something movies can easily achieve. [Laughs] I promise all the avid fans of The Hunger Games that we can easily deal with Jennifer’s hair color.

Have you had conversations with her about the enormity of stepping not just into a franchise like this, but a character that is already so beloved by the world? How do you prepare a young person for that?
Oh god, have you ever met her? [Laughs] Don’t worry about Jen Lawrence. She’s a very powerful person. Jennifer is from Kentucky. I think she feels such a complete connection to who Katniss is, the way many people do, but this just seems like a very good fit to her. I think she’s very confident about the role, I think it feels very organic to her. She’s ready to dive in. She goes to archery class next week. Yeah, she’s going to start shooting arrows next week! I think by the end of the week she’s going to be learning to climb trees. She’s a very strong, confident young woman. She’s very confident in her own talent and who she is as a woman, and I think that all these things make her want to dive into the role.

Find the rest at EW.com

Hopefully after reading this, more fans will feel confident with Jen as Katniss. I know I do.

What do you think?

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LIONSGATE AND “THE HUNGER GAMES” FILMMAKERS CONFIRM HIGHLY ANTICIPATED CASTING DECISION

Photo © Pamela Littky

LOS ANGELES, CA, March 17, 2011- Lionsgate and the filmmakers of “The Hunger Games” are pleased to announce that Academy Award®nominated actress Jennifer Lawrence will assume the coveted role of Katniss Everdeen in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games.”

The film will be directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force.  Collins’ best-selling novel, which has over 3 million copies in print in the United States alone, is the first in a trilogy of science fiction/action novels which have developed a global following.  Lionsgate will release “The Hunger Games” on March 23, 2012.

Newcomer Lawrence’s meteoric ascent began in earnest with her breakout role in last year’s “Winter’s Bone,” and culminated in an Academy Award nomination. This summer, Lawrence will star in Matthew Vaughn’s “X Men: First Class” and in “The Beaver” directed by Jodie Foster. Later this year, she co-stars in the Sundance Grand Jury winner “Like Crazy”.

Author Suzanne Collins weighed in on the selection of Lawrence, “Jennifer’s just an incredible actress.  So powerful, vulnerable, beautiful, unforgiving and brave.  I never thought we’d find somebody this perfect for the role.  And I can’t wait for everyone to see her play it.”

“I’m so excited work with Jen and see her bring this character to life.  Katniss requires a young actress with strength, depth, complexity, tenderness, and power. There are very few people alive who can bring that to a role.  Jen brings it in spades. She’s going to be an amazing Katniss.” said director Gary Ross.

“The Hunger Games” chronicles a dystopic Capitol which requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl, forced to participate in the annual “Hunger Games,” a fight-to-the-death live televised event.  Katniss Everdeen’s little sister is chosen in the lottery to participate and Katniss volunteers to take her place.  Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home.  The Hunger Games novel has been on the New York Times best seller list for over 100 consecutive weeks. Foreign rights for the book, published by Scholastic have been sold in 41 countries.

Source: Lionsgate

Finally!  So, what do you think of our Katniss?

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“I’ve met the producers,” Parrish told us last night at Alternative Apparel’s Fall 2011 showcase in West Hollywood. “I’d be grateful to get the opportunity. Like, really grateful. It would be amazing.” (FYI: Beastly star Alex Pettyfer told Access Hollywood last month that he’s also spoken with Hunger producers)

While Parrish says he hasn’t seen a script for the film based on Suzanne Collins‘ bestselling novel trilogy, he has gotten lots of support from fans of the franchise on Twitter wanting him to nab the part.

“You don’t get much better than that,” he said. “The true fans of the book. So regardless of whether I’m a part of the film or not, I feel honored to just sort of be thought of. I read the books all last year, and I guess they’re starting filming soon.”

As for who he wants for the role of Hunger Games heroine Katniss? Someone close to his age.

“If it’s Jennifer [Lawrence], man, sign me up!” the 23-year-old actor said of the Winter’s Bone starlet, 20. “I think if it ended up being Hailee Steinfeld or Saoirse [Ronan] or who’s the other one? Abigail Breslin. Then it would be weird. It would be really weird.”

Source:Eonline.com

Oh please, please, please Lionsgate!  With a cherry on top?

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Exclusive: Jennifer Lawrence is close to getting an offer to star as Katniss in Lionsgate’s “Hunger Games,” Lionsgate’s bet on the next “Twilight”-sized young-adult franchise…

Age was a significant factor in the decision, as insiders have told Variety that Ross and Lionsgate execs were weighing whether to play the role younger or older. That would not only help determine the tone, but also play a part in casting other roles, specifically the role of Peeta, Katniss’ love interest.

Steinfeld and Breslin are both 14 and Lawrence is 20. Though there are plenty of up-and-coming teenage actors, Lionsgate can more easily find a recognizable face in his 20s for the male lead.

The deal may have come together sooner, but Lawrence has not officially signed on to any other projects since her best actress nomination. Thesp has been weighing over offers, including Oliver Stone’s “Savages,” and may had scheduling issues to work out.

Source:variety

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Source: MTV

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Source: ReelzChannel

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