Francis Lawrence on 'Catching Fire' - There IS a Rooftop Scene

Francis Lawrence talked to Aint It Cool News about Catching Fire, and a lot of really interesting information is included in this interview. One of the key takeaways: A short rooftop scene was shot for the movie and cut out. Let's cross our fingers for the DVD/Blu-ray extras! Read on:

Mr. Beaks: The political intrigue leading up to the games is much more interesting this time. You definitely take your time getting us into the arena. Were you worried about pacing at all in letting it play out somewhat deliberately? I'm thinking specifically of the scenes with President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and Plutarch (Philip Seymour Hoffman). 

Francis Lawrence: What's interesting is that stuff that was added. In the books it's one point-of-view; you're with Katniss 100 percent of the time. But CATCHING FIRE is totally an antagonist-driven story. Everything that's happening is happening because Snow is deciding some event is going to happen, and Katniss is acting because of that; then something changes, and Snow reacts to that. It was important to see those scenes and sequences we always thought were happening behind the scenes with Snow and Plutarch. Those were backwards engineered, where you know certain events are happening in District 12 or within the games, and then you have to think about "If the two of them are working together trying to figure out what to do with Katniss Everdeen, where are those scenes taking place? How are they coming to those decisions?" It was really fun stuff to develop because it wasn't in the book.

Beaks: That chess match continues into the games. There's another level to the games this time. In adapting the story, did you feel you had to simplify or clarify these machinations?

Lawrence: No, but you have to be super careful. Without giving too much away, there's a lot going on and a lot of plans that you're unsure of for a while. It's making sure that you're threading that story through in a way that you can look back and go, "Okay, I can see how that would happen under my nose" - as it all happens under Katniss's nose. We had to make sure that the story was working on those fronts, but we didn't want to be too obvious with anything. Then it becomes expository and boring and too on-the-nose. It loses its mystery.

MORE after the jump!

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This is such a bizarre interview but, almost like a trainwreck, we couldn't look away. Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks and Francis Lawrence are interviewed by "Caesar Twitterman" aka Daniele Rizzo, a German comedian.

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Box Office: 'Catching Fire' Ablaze Friday With $70.5 Million

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is set to score the top November opening of all time:

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire topped the Friday box office with a historic $70.5 million, one of the biggest opening-day grosses of all time in North America and putting the sequel back on course to match the $152.5 million earned by the first film in March 2012.

Catching Fire is also destined to score the top November opening of all time, eclipsing the $142.8 million earned by fellow YA film adaptation The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The movie, earning an A CinemaScore, marks another major victory for Lionsgate and is reaching a broader audience than Hunger Games did, with males making up 12 percent more of the audience.

Overseas, where it is rolling out in 65 markets, Catching Fire has already earned a stellar $64 million. The movie is doing double the business of Hunger Games overall, and is four times larger in Germany and nearly 40 percent bigger in Australia.

In 2012, Hunger Games topped out at $408 million domestically and $283.2 million internationally for a global total of $691.2 million; Catching Fire is expected to do substantially more. By Sunday alone, the movie could cross $300 million in global ticket sales.

VIDEO: Josh Hutcherson Interview During SNL Rehearsals

Josh Hutcherson talks working with the SNL cast, Catching Fire, and what advice Jennifer Lawrence gave him on hosting SNL in between reheasals at the show.

Josh Hutcherson on SNL - Get Ready for a Racy Show

Josh at the Museaum Gala. Photo courtesy Vanity FairJosh Hutcherson attended the Museum of Natural History Gala in New York City last night. VF Daily was there and had this to say:

The Saturday Night Live cast says we can expect a racy show from Catching Fire star Josh Hutcherson, who is set to host the show this weekend.

“I definitely think he’ll do some things you haven’t seen before,” Seth Meyers told VF Daily at the Museum of Natural History gala on Thursday. “It will be new Josh, I promise.” Cecily Strong concurred: “We all were, like, Whoa, look at that sex face!” she said of one scene. “He’s got a great bedroom-eyes stare.”

“He’s been game,” Taran Killam added. “It’s always great when people are, like, ‘Tell me what to do,’” Killam said. Does that mean we can expect something really out there, like Killam’s Miley Cyrus bit? “Are you going to see any Killam or Hutcherson butt?” Killam wondered out loud. Yes, that’s what we want to know. “Tune in, man.”

It was easy to miss Hutcherson, one of many tuxedoed gents milling in the vast crowd at the museum. We only noticed him when he casually joined our conversation with Saturday Night Live star Nasim Pedrad.

Slightly star-struck, we asked how many marriage proposals he’s received from fans. “Oh my,” Hutcherson said, thinking seriously. “I would honestly say 25?”

Not, like, 25 million? “Like, in-person, Will you marry me, I’d say 25,” he explained. How does he react? “I always say, like, We barely know each other!” he said, laughing.

The Hunger Games star said preparing for Saturday’s show has been both crazy and a dream come true. The SNL cast members love him. “He’s very, very sweet, and it’s nice to have a host like that,” Cecily Strong said. “Everybody at the show is so in love with this guy, and rightfully so,” Taran Killam added. “He’s the most endearing, accessible, down-to-earth guy.”

VF Daily can attest to this! As giant security guards whisked him away, Hutcherson called over his shoulder: “Thank you so much!”

You mean THIS bedroom eyes stare?

Inside The 'Catching Fire' Los Angeles Premiere After Party

Exterior of the Catching Fire after party courtesy The Hob.org

Aerial view of the after party tent from our hotel room window.

Imagine the most epic party you can, sprinkle that with celebrities and models dressed as Capitol people, add a pinch of delicious food catered by Wolfgang Puck then a splash of open bar, and you’ll have the recipe for the Catching Fire premiere after party in Los Angeles on November 18th.

Dan (aka Appius Knoll) and I (Molly, aka Lollia Grey) from PanemPropaganda.com were lucky enough to be invited by Lionsgate to attend the Los Angeles premiere of Catching Fire and the after-party (aka The EVENT OF THE YEAR!) Firstly, the after party invite was the coolest invitation we’ve ever received - a holographic, image of Katniss that changes as you move it. (Check it out in action in Aldrin's video at the bottom of this post.) And YES, we got to keep it!

We walked into the party through a row of men beating giant timpani drums - an excellent touch  lifted right out of the movie’s chariot scene. See Tiffany from Mockingjay.net's video above. That's quite a welcome! This wasn’t just a party, it was like walking into the Victory party at Snow Mansion. Models dressed as Capitol citizens were everywhere, in over-the-top costumes, make-up and wigs. They stayed in character the whole time, snapping pictures with the guests. There were white roses everywhere, food stations and bars wherever you turn, tables piled with colorful desserts, beautiful lighting, and furnished lounge areas set up throughout the event tent.

Capitol people! Photo by Mockingjay.net

Photo courtesy TheHob.Org Donald Sutherland was the first cast member we saw at the party, signing autographs and taking pictures with guests. Next, we talked with Francis Lawrence and thanked him, from the whole fandom, for making such an incredible adaptation of our beloved book. He’s really thrilled that the hardcore fans are loving the film adaptation so much. And he’s really nice and a totally normal guy. He told us to make sure to see the film in IMAX. Whatever Franny says, Franny gets. We’ll be seeing the IMAX version tonight!

Speaking of the book, Suzanne Collins was there!! We missed her at the party, but our friend Tiffany from Mockingjay.net spoke with her. Jeffrey Wright introduced them, whatever, no big deal. (SQUEE!!)

The most surreal aspect of the party was seeing celebs just walking around like normal people, grabbing a drink, looking just as shy and awkward as anyone else at a party of 1000 people they don't know that well. And not. Our inner dialogue went something like this: "Oh hey, Chord Overstreet, what'cha doin'? Oh, just moonwalking around the bar, are you? Ok, you have fun with that. Good times. Joe Jonas. Whateves. Yep, that's normal. Nice hat, Matt Damon. Howdy, every tv commentator from every entertainment show, ever. Oh, Hi Dave Karger!" OK, I actually verbalised my hello to Fandango's Chief Correspondent Dave Karger and he is an absolute sweetheart.

Dan and I (Molly) From Panempropaganda with Bruno! Thanks to Sheila from HGGirlonFire for snapping it.We met Bruno Gunn, and he’s as awesome as he seems on twitter. Almost everyone from the cast was there: Elizabeth Banks, Alan Ritchson, Lynn Cohen, Jeffrey Wright, Woody Harrelson, Jena Malone, Willow Shields, Meta Golding, Trish Summerville, E. Roger Mitchell, Megan Hayes, Elena Sanchez, Nelson Ascencio, Bruce Bundy, Patrick St. Esprit (Thread). Some of our former Hunger Games tributes were walking around the party too: Jackie Emerson, Dayo Okeniyi, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jack Quaid were all wandering around having fun. Even some of our Mockingjay cast members were there! We saw Evan Ross (Messalla) hanging out with his girlfriend Ashley Simpson and Wes Chatham (Castor). Sadly, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth went straight from the premiere to New York City to do more press and a screening on 11/20.

Sam holding court - and that's Amanda from The Hob, too! Photo by The Fandom.netSam Claflin was holding court at a lounge area surrounded by security. If this is the barometer of his future fame, this guy is going to be a HUGE star. There were so many people crowded around, trying to get a moment with Sam. It was insane. We happened to be walking by when this epicness happened:

When Finnick met Annie. Sam Claflin meets Stef Dawson. Photo by The Hob.org

This is the moment our Finnick met our Annie! Sam and Stef Dawson had never met until the this moment at the after party. Someone brought her over, and they had an adorable meeting surrounded by dozens of fans. When we talked with the very lovely Stef Dawson later, she confirmed that this was their first meeting. She was totally gracious and hung out and chatted with us for a long time. She’s really excited to get started on Mockingjay and super happy to be a part of the “family.” She is like a delicate, gorgeous little fairy. She’ll be just PERFECT as Annie.

Stef Dawson, Molly (that's me!) from PanemProp & Tiffany from Mockingjay.Net.As the night wound down, we got a chance to meet Sam Claflin. He has to be one of the kindest celebs around and seems as though he’s having the time of his life. He hung out talking with us until his handlers dragged him away to go back to his hotel (it was after 1:00am), he even showed us photos of his dog Rosie on his cell phone (she’s adorable)! And I got a huge hug, which I will not soon forget. Sigh. Not over it.

Sam is an epic hugger. Thanks to Amamda from TheHob.org for snapping the picture!!

We closed down the party with E. Roger Mitchell. Being the last to leave the Catching Fire After Party with our Chaff was a pretty awesome way to end the night.

Dan and I from PP closing down the after party with our Chaff, E. Roger Mitchell!

Check out Aldrin from HungerGamesDWTC's fantastic vlog of the party. He really captured it!

Special thanks to our amazing fan site friends at Mockingjay.net, The Hob.Org, HGGirlOnFire, HungerGamesDWTC, VictorsVillage, HungerGamesTrilogy.Net, HungerGamesMovie.Org, TheFandom.Net, WelcomeToDistrict12.com, and MyHungerGames! Most of these pictures and video are from their cameras - so thank you guys for snapping such great pictures. And be sure to check out THEIR after party coverage as well.

And huge thanks to Lionsgate for an unforgettable weekend.