Woody Harrelson Talks 'Catching Fire' & Francis Lawrence With HitFix

Woody Harrelson (Haymitch) is doing a bunch of press for his new movie Now You See Me, and inevitably the interviewer touches on Catching Fire (Yes!). Woody talks about Francis Lawrence as a director and a little about the movie: 

Well, there may have been no one, other than Lionsgate execs or something, more distraught than me when Gary Ross left. I was REALLY distraught because I love that guy. But I gotta say, Francis, he's fantastic. He's just a real gentleman, he's a super fun guy, and a great, great director. I mean, really knows what he wants, really understands action. Believe me, the whole Hunger Games franchise will not suffer from having him at the helm. He's just great. I haven't seen the second one so I better save these comments 'til later. But I heard it's great. 

Sam Claflin's Fiance Talks Finnick and 'Catching Fire' Fans

Sam Claflin's lovely fiance, Laura Haddock, talked to Empire Magazine (June issue) about Sam, his fans, and his new sex-symbol status:  

Professionaly, Haddock is presently juggling a number of future projects. Personally, though, the future is set - she's engaged to Sam Claflin, who will shortly best his parts in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Snow White & The Huntsman to go stratospheric as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire's revolutionary sex bomb, Finnick Odair.

"Sam being a pin-up is funny," says Haddock. "We have this big monthly session where we sit down with his fan mail, him with a big marker pen and me and his mum with a cup of tea, and he signs all these things that have come in. The other day he got a bracelet from this girl who's a fan of The Hunger Games. It had his district on it. And he put it on and took a picture of it and sent it to her by Twitter, which made her day. But he's not taken it off! He loves it!" She laughs. "Otherwise he gets all of these pictures of him, where he's looking all sexy and serious..."

And her point is? "Well he IS very sexy," she says. "But he's really not very serious. You know, he looks gorgeous in that film. But if you said that to him he'd say, 'What? Me? I'm from Norwich!'"

Here's the bracelet she was referring to in the article! Lucky @Tanyelala

Francis Lawrence Gives New 'Catching Fire' Details

Francis Lawrence, Jennifer Lawrence, and Josh Hutcherson on the Catching Fire set in Hawaii

The July issue of Empire Magazine has a brand new still of Effie and Peeta, along with an interview with Catching Fire director Francis Lawrence. Lawrence talks about the scope of the movie and the theme of the trilogy being the consequence of war:

The tone and scope of Catching Fire

“Everything opens up in this one … I think that without the second and the third book, the first movie would feel like a relatively small story, but the mythology opens up and the stakes ratchet up. You realise that this is about so much more than one person and that a whole country and a rebellion and loads of people’s lives are at stake.”

Revisiting the Games and Tributes

“Any time leading up to the Games you’re gonna go to the Capitol, go through training, go through the chariots and the interviews. So we had to be really vigilant about how to make those moments feel different. These tributes are like war veterans. One of the great things about all the books is just the theme of the consequences of war. All these people, and they how it all in different ways, have some form of PTSD, and the ones that you get to know, you start to see the cracks in their veneer. And once we got into the arena – ours is tropical so the geography was wildly different – it was easy.”

Thanks to The Hob.org for the details! 

New 'Catching Fire' Still from Empire Magazine

Chins up, smiles on! Check out a new Catching Fire still from Empire Magazine featuring Effie and Peeta! We'll get a HQ version up when it's available. 

More Video From Inside The 'Catching Fire' Party at Cannes

Want to see everything that went into the preparation for the Catching Fire blow-out at Cannes on Saturday? We just found a great b-roll from Trailer Addict that has some amazing footage of Jennifer Lawrence, Sam Claflin, Liam Hemsworth, and Francis Lawrence throughout their whirlwind day at the Cannes Film Festival PLUS the entire preparation of the Catching Fire party, from setting up the interior of the tent to making up the Capitol models. You even get to check out the party in full swing. It looks like it's Covergirl promotional footage, based on the amount of product placement in the video. Enjoy!

VIDEO: Francis Lawrence Talks 'Catching Fire' At Cannes

Here's video of Catching Fire director Francis Lawrence talking about the movie on the red carpet at Cannes. We love getting to see more of Francis Lawrence. He seems extremely calm and confident. We're excited to see his vision of Catching Fire! 

Inside The 'Catching Fire' Party at Cannes

Thanks to our good friends at TheHob.org, we've got a look INSIDE the exclusive Catching Fire party at the Cannes film festival, held in a tent at Baoli Beach on Saturday, May 18th. The party was complete with Capitol citizens and plenty of President Snow's white roses.

Be sure to check out our post and photos of the Jennifer Lawrence, Sam Claflin, and Liam Hemsworth on the pre-party red carpet (plus the party invitation) HERE, photos of the Catching Fire photocall HERE, and photos of Jen, Sam, Liam and Francis from the 'Jimmy P' red carpet HERE.

Place settings inside the Catching Fire party at CannesA look at the decor inside the Catching Fire party

Capitol citizens inside the Catching Fire party

Peek-a-boo Samantha Barks, is that you??

A video look inside the party by Vine user, Raffi Asdourian:

About the party:

Taking futuristic dystopian fashion and fun to whole new levels, Lionsgate’s THE HUNGER GAMES:CATCHING FIRE Capitol Party at Baoli Beach on Saturday evening sponsored by COVERGIRL was this year’s hottest event at the Cannes Film Festival. Themed around 2013’s most anticipated motion-picture release, THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE, the party was comprised of an exclusive guest list that included the film’s stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Sam Claflin, as well as director Francis Lawrence. COVERGIRL, which celebrated its partnership with the film at the event, provided touchups to party guests. Acclaimed DJ Snake kept everyone in the groove while a platoon of models remained in constant circulation clad in “Capitol Chic” attire.

Lionsgate spent five months planning the exclusive affair paying close attention to every detail from importing Capitol portraits for the event, to providing specially coded tickets for each guest which included a pin for them to wear granting them access. The night rivaled the grandest celebrations hosted by President Snow.

Make sure to visit TheHob.org for many more photos and also just because they are fabulous! 

Catching Fire Beach Party at Cannes

Lionsgate hosted a beach blow-out (that was moved into a tent due to rainy weather) Saturday May 18th, 2013, to promote Catching Fire at Cannes and to celebrate their new partnership with Covergirl.

Here's a look at the invitation to the party. Notice that President Snow requires your attendance and that you have to wear the rose pin to be admitted! 

Catching Fire stars Sam Claflin, Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and director Francis Lawrence walked the red carpet before the festivities.

Jen being Jen on the carpet!

Video of Jennifer Lawrence on the red carpet. Her bit starts at the :20 mark.