Jennifer, Josh, Liam, Francis and Nina Talk Mockingjay Part 2 in Total Film Magazine

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Francis Lawrence and Nina Jacobson talk about the end of the game changing franchise in the December issue of Total Film. 

In the article, producer Nina Jacobson talks about the bond the three leads Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth share:

The most heartening thing is to see how close they’ve become with each other. They became a family. They became incredibly close. They grew up together in the way that other people of that age are going to college. Instead they had this experience."

Jacobson says Mockingjay Part 2 is the film "where Katniss takes control of the narrative, where she sets the agenda for the movie. I think for Jen to step into the role as the leader, as the one calling the shots for a good part of the movie, and the attendant burden of that, was something that she was very ready to play."

On recognizing Jennifer Lawrence's star power in the Katniss casting process Jacobson says:

It’s crazy to imagine that yes, there was a moment when Jen Lawrence had to audition for a role, and that’s unimaginable now – and that was not that long ago. But then she came in to audition and the audition was ridiculously moving and made the casting director cry. Nobody was ever going to get that part besides her. Star quality? Yes, of course. She felt like a movie star from the second I saw her in Winter's Bone."

On the possibility of a Hunger Games sequel or prequel, the story is over for Nina Jacobson. For now. "I don't have any idea for how to extend it and I don't have any plans right now. If Suzanne Collins called me up one day and said, 'I have an idea.' I'd be there in a second. But, I would always follow her lead and right now there are no plans. I wouldn't know how to do it myself and I wouldn't want to do it if she didn't. If it didn't come from her." 

On the possibility of the inevitable Hunger Games reboot in 20 years, director Francis Lawrence laughs, "The way the business is going now it seems like they would! It's like you would be doing it in less than 20 years."

Jennifer Lawrence says, "Of course they will. I don’t think it’s surreal at all. I think it’s a totally realistic possibility. Good luck to them!"

"I want to play Haymitch, " jokes Josh Hutcherson,  "You can be Effie." He turns to Hemsworth, "You can be Snow. The son we didn't know about." Hemsworth grins, running with it, "I'm really bitter towards you guys because of what happened."

"It's great." enthuses Hutcherson, "We're going to write it. Jen and Amy Schumer!" Adds Jen, nodding, "It'll be the most dramatic thing you've ever seen."

 

To read the full article, pick up a copy on newsstands or get the digital issue HERE. 

Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson Talk Mockingjay Part 2 With epix

Epix has posted a new series of Mockingjay Part 2 interviews with Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Francis Lawrence on their site. There are three short and sweet interviews from the long lead press day back in August. It's exciting to finally see those interviews start to come out!! It's happening! 

New 'Mockingjay Part 2' Stills!

A lovely new batch of Mockingjay Part 2 stills debuted today. The new Peeta still premiered on Josh Hutcherson's Facebook page. Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen was also a Facebook page debut.

Will there be any more stills revealed today? Stay tuned!

'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2' TV Special ‘Jet To The Set: The Hunger Games’ to Air on Oct 29th

A fan-fueled television special on one of the most successful global film franchises of all-time, The Hunger Games, will premiere on Pop with JET TO THE SET: THE HUNGER GAMES on Thursday, October 29 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT. 

Hosted by TV personality Carly Steel (CBS’ “Entertainment Tonight”) and Hollywood insider and style guru Laurie Feltheimer (“Hot in Hollywood”), JET TO THE SET: THE HUNGER GAMES is a mix of travel, adventure and pop culture. Filmed in Atlanta, the primary location of The Hunger Games films, the show will feature behind-the-scenes access to set locations, including The Victor’s Training Center, President Snow’s Mansion and the 75^th Hunger Games Cornucopia.  Viewers will witness Laurie’s incredible transformation to Effie Trinket with make-up and special effects, and watch Carly perfect her archery skills. 

The one hour special will also include a never before seen clip from Mockingjay Part 2, as well as exclusive interviews with lead cast members Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth.  

JET TO THE SET: THE HUNGER GAMES will also feature special appearances by Patina Miller (Commander Paylor) and more who give us the authentic lowdown on Atlanta.

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth Will be Honored at Hand & Footprint Ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX

Exciting news! Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth will be honored at the classic hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Hollywood.

Many thousands of Hollywood’s elite have graced the halls of the TCL Chinese Theatres at the movies, red carpet premieres and ceremonies. But only a select few have been invited to join the exclusive society known as the Forecourt of the Stars.

Jen, Josh and Liam will leave their hand prints in cement on Oct 31st at 10am. If you want to watch the ceremony GET THERE EARLY! There will be limited fan viewing at the ceremony, but it's first come, first served. The ceremony is coinciding with the festivities at The Hunger Games Tribute Global Fan Appreciation Event at the Samsung Studio in Los Angeles. So, at least now we know that "The Trio" will be present at the event! We can't wait to see what shenanigans ensue when there's a combination of Jen, Josh, Liam, and wet cement.  

Full press release below:

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.– On Sat., Oct. 31, Hunger Games stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth will place their handprints and footprints in cement, an honor reserved for Hollywood’s biggest luminaries.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, the final installment of the global blockbuster HungerGames franchise that has captivated audiences around the world, has been digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX® format and is being released in IMAX® theaters domestically for the film’s November 20th rollout. It will open in Hollywood at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX. http://www.tclchinesetheatres.com

The IMAX® version of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX® DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

The blockbuster Hunger Games franchise has taken audiences by storm around the world, grossing more than $2.2 billion at the global box office. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 now brings the franchise to its powerful final chapter in which Katniss Everdeen [Jennifer Lawrence] realizes the stakes are no longer just for survival – they are for the future.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Peter Craig and Danny Strong, from an adaptation by Suzanne Collins, and features an acclaimed cast including Academy Award®-winner Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Academy Award®-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, with Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland reprising their original roles from The Hunger Gamesand The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The impressive lineup is joined by The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 co-stars Academy Award®-winner Julianne Moore, Mahershala Ali, Natalie Dormer, Wes Chatham, Elden Henson and Evan Ross.

The TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX handprints-footprints ceremony is rich in tradition and provides its four million-plus annual visitors an opportunity to experience the lore of Hollywood up close.

Movie exhibitor Sid Grauman, who was one of Hollywood’s best known and most creative showmen, opened The Chinese in 1927 and launched the handprint-footprint ceremony a year later, as a promotion to advertise his many premieres and first run films. Recent celebrants have included Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Johnny Depp and Jennifer Aniston. In any given year, The TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX hosts over 40 red carpet film premieres and since it opened, it has hosted three Academy Award® ceremonies and numerous world premieres.

Katniss & Mockingjay Part 2 Cover December SFX Magazine

Click for full size

Jennifer Lawrence suited up as Katniss Everdeen in Mockingjay Part 2 covers the December issue of SFX Magazine.

SFX sat down with director Francis Lawrence and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Sam Claflin, and Liam Hemsworth to discuss the film and some of their favorite memories from the franchise.

Francis Lawrence discussed how Mockingjay Part 2 is different from Mockingjay Part 1 and why he didn't go full Tarantino.

"Visually it’s different because it’s a very different story,” shares Lawrence. "The last one takes place underground and Katniss is sidelined. There’s a lot less action and it’s dark and claustrophobic. This one’s very different. Very quickly we’re out of District 13 and in District 2. And we spend a lot of time in the Capitol. That gives a different foundation for visual choices that opens the film up in a much bigger way. It’s much more epic.

"I think it’s also much more similar tonally to the first two movies. The war in this movie is essentially an arena. There are definitely shared themes throughout the entire series. This is the movie where all of the themes coalesce. The last one was about propaganda and the media and the manipulation of imagery. Those aspects and the consequences of war and violence all come together here."

Was Lawrence worried about creating a violent movie, which would alienated the film's teenage fanbase? "I was both concerned and determined not to flinch," he admits. "One of the big themes of this story is violence – the effects of violence and the consequences of it. These books are targeted at teenagers. Part of the reason they appealed is that Suzanne didn’t flinch. And luckily people have embraced it. You also don’t want to flinch. 

"But you don’t want to get an R rating and alienate all the teenagers that the books are meant for. My goal was not to focus on the carnage, on the bloodbath aspect of it, but on the emotional impact, the emotional consequences. We did the things that are in the book. It needs to have impact. That’s where you don’t want to flinch. You just don’t need to fetishise the blood, the carnage and the gore.”

Jennifer Lawrence's favorite part about The Hunger Games franchise?

The highlight was meeting my two best friends. 

Josh's most memorable fan encounter:

I had someone in Spain who came up to me – I don’t speak very much Spanish, and she didn’t speak very much English – and she was trying to explain to me something about The Hunger Games. She said ‘Look!’ She pulled up [her top]… I was like 'Oh my god!’ Real Or Not Real was tattooed on either side. I was like oh boy, I applaud you for commitment. However, I’m happy it’s not my face."

What he kept from filming:

I kept a little locket I gave to Katniss. 

See the whole story in the new issue of SFX magazine is out today, October 14. Be sure to pick up your copy here! 

Sci Fi Now 'Mockingjay Part 2' Cover Issue Scans

Mockingjay Part 2 has the cover of SciFiNow Magazine Issue 112 and we've got the scans for you thanks to the-bleedinglove12 on tumblr. Click each image to enlarge for reading. 

Be sure to pick up a copy of Sci Fi Now online or at your favorite newsstand. 

Newest 'Mockingjay Part 2' Stills Feature Peeta, Katniss, Finnick, Johanna, Squad 451

The newest batch of very serious-looking Mockingjay Part 2 stills out today feature Finnick, Johanna and a very melancholy Katniss, a tiny glimpse at handcuffed Peeta, a very protective Gale and Squad 451. Check them out thanks to QuarterQuell.