Philip Seymour Hoffman Had One "Emotional" Scene Left to Film for 'Mockingjay Part 2'

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Woody Harrelson in Catching Fire

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Philip Seymour Hoffman had one major, emotional scene left to film in the final installment of the Hunger Games series, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. THR spoke with a Lionsgate executive who said, "We’re all extraordinarily sad. But as it relates to production, it’s going to have no impact. Obviously, we're going to have a couple of work-around issues but the movie will be creatively whole. His performances in both [remaining] movies will be up to the best of his craft. We feel it will be a good tribute to him."

Hoffman died tragically on Sunday of an apparent drug overdose.

The Lionsgate executive would not expand on the crucial scene that remains to be shot. But fans can certainly guess what scene it might be. Lionsgate previously stated that the actor had about a week of filming left on Mockingjay Part 2. The final film in the series is set for release in November 2015.

A source with ties to the project said that with the exception of one major scene in the final film, "they seem to have plans that don’t seem very complicated" to complete both pictures without Hoffman. "You can do digital things, you can have conversations where you’re not focusing on him but the people he’s talking to," this observer said.

Rob Legato, a veteran effects supervisor whose latest credit is The Wolf of Wall Street, says he has no specific knowledge about the Hunger Games films but at this point, technology is most likely good enough to generate a convincing image of Hoffman, though some scenes might need to be rewritten. "These days the technology of using someone's likeness is a whole lot easier to do," he said. "I won't say you could generate a Philip Seymour Hoffman with all the acting ability, but you could certainly replicate him for a shot or two."

On a personal note:

The LAST thing we want to do is be insensitive in reporting this information. A man has died tragically which is completely devastating to his loved ones and fans and, obviously, this is the most important part of any story about Philip Seymour Hoffman. We are providing information, which is our commitment to you as a Hunger Games fan site. It's completely natural for people to be curious about what happens next, and we're simply providing that information to the numerous fans who have repeatedly asked us for it.

Philip Seymour Hoffman Was Nearly Finished Shooting 'Mockingjay'

Variety is reporting that Philip Seymour Hoffman was nearly finished shooting his portion of Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2:

With Hollywood still in shock over the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lionsgate was forced to consider how it will move forward with the industry’s most lucrative franchise now, The Hunger Games, which currently is in production on its final two installments, Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2.

Hoffman, who was found dead Sunday morning in New York of an apparent drug overdose, joined the hit franchise in its most recent installment, Catching Fire, playing the game master Plutarch Heavensbee. That film grossed a giant $860 million at the worldwide box office.

According to Lionsgate, the majority of Hoffman’s scenes had been completed, with just seven days left to shoot on Mockingjay — Part 2.

Release dates (Nov. 21 and Nov. 20, 2015) for either installment will not be affected, Lionsgate said.

The Mockingjay shoot began in September in Atlanta and is planned to last into the spring, before shifting to Berlin and Paris for a month, ending in May. Both installments are shooting simultaneously.

Additionally, Lionsgate released a statement saying, “Philip Seymour Hoffman was a singular talent and one of the most gifted actors of our generation.  We’re very fortunate that he graced our ‘Hunger Games’ family. Losing him in his prime is a tragedy, and we send  our deepest condolences to Philip’s family.”

Hoffman’s part in the last Hunger Games became more significant by the end of the film, though it still was a supporting role.

UPDATE: Jennifer Lawrence, Mockingjay director Francis Lawrence, author Suzanne Collins, and producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik released a joint statement following the news of Hoffman’s death.

“Words cannot convey the devastating loss we are all feeling right now. Philip was a wonderful person and an exceptional talent, and our hearts are breaking. Our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to his family.”

Sam Claflin, Liam Hemsworth and Francis Lawrence on the 'Mockingjay' Set

Sam Claflin, Liam Hemsworth and Francis Lawrence were all spotted on the Mockingjay set in Atlanta, GA yesterday. Looks like the snow day break is over and they're back to work on the movie.

Is 'Mockingjay' Gearing Up To Film Finnick and Annie's Wedding?

CL Casting, the company that's doing the Mockingjay casting in Atlanta, just posted some VERY intriguing casting calls that suggest they might be gearing up to film Finnick and Annie's wedding! Why is this exciting? Because it's Finnick and Annie's wedding!!

The first call asks for Contra dancers, "In which couples dance in two facing lines or a square."

The second call works the same days and calls for a fiddler:

When you read this excerpt from Mockingjay it all starts coming together:

After the kiss that seals the union, the cheers, and a toast with apple cider, the fiddler strikes up a tune that turns every head from 12. We may have been the smallest, poorest district in Panem, but we know how to dance. Nothing has been officially scheduled at this point, but Plutarch, who's calling the propo from the control room, must have his fingers crossed. Sure enough, Greasy Sae grabs Gale by the hand and pulls him into the center of the floor and faces off with him. People pour in to join them, forming two long lines. And the dancing begins.

Thanks to our friedns at The Hob.org who figured this out first and got our Fannie fangirl hearts freaking out!

Natalie Dormer Talks Jennifer Lawrence and Joining the Hunger Games Family

E! Online spoke with Natalie Dormer at the SAG Awards, where she debuted her half-shaved Mockingjay hairdo, and they just revealed a little more from their conversation on the red carpet. Dormer says she is ecstatic about being a part of the Hunger Games family.

The 31-year-old actress, who plays Cressida in the upcoming two Mockingjay films, gushed about the highly anticipated films and her awesome costar Jennifer Lawrence.

"It's the best family to be a part of," Dormer said. "I'm so happy to be a part of the Hunger Games family, really."

As for her character in the film, Dormer explained, "Cressida, she's a documentary filmmaker turned rebel. She's left the Capitol to join the rebellion against Snow. She's got that Capitol funk style going on, but now she's like practical rebel and believes in the cause."

And Dormer definitely gets in on the action scenes alongside Lawrence's Katniss. "Well, anyone who knows the book knows that Cressida follows Katniss into the field," she dished. "I'm pretty much Katniss' guide for the majority."

As for working with J.Law, Dormer says "yes" she's as cool as you'd think. "She's a total chick," she said. "She's gorgeous."

Dormer also had to shave half of her head for the Mockingjay role. "The hair department of Mockingjay did it and I love it," she told us. "A little trepidation, but I was excited."

Costume Design Duo Will Replace Trish Summerville on 'Mockingjay' Movies

Bart Mueller, left, and Kurt Swanson. Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Lionsgate has confirmed that costume designers Bart Mueller and Kurt Swanson will head the Mockingjay films' costume design, succeeding original franchise designer Trish Summerville. Summerville chose to work on the film adaption of David Fincher's Gone Girl instead of completing the Hunger Games series, Summerville's rep confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Although the design duo wouldn't reveal any details to the project, they did express being "so excited" when reached via email.

Mueller and Swanson are nominated for a Costume Designers Guild Award for their recent work on the Matthew McConaughey- and Jared-Leto-starring Dallas Buyers Club. "With such committed actors, we really loved being part of bringing these characters to the screen," expressed Mueller and Swanson about their nomination. The fact that it’s getting so much attention and that people are seeing this movie is really rewarding. The CDG nomination is icing on the cake.
"

They've previously worked on Britney Spears' "Lucky," "Stronger" and "Slave 4 U" music videos, and also designed the look of HBO's fashion industry-focused How To Make It In America.

Elizabeth Banks Talks About Jennifer Lawrence and Being ON THE MOCKINGJAY SET!

Elizaeth Banks at Sundance. Portrait thanks to EW E!Online spoke with Elizabeth Banks at Sundance while she was promoting her film, Little Accidents, and they asked her about co-star Jennifer Lawrence. We LOVE Jen, obviously, but don't you think her co-stars get a little sick of having their entire interviews be about someone else? Anyhoo, Liz gave up one little tidbit that is still FREAKING me out (in a good way). She's in Mockingjay Part 1.

"Yes, I was on [the Mockingjay] set the Thursday she was nominated," Banks dished to E! News at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival junket for her film Little Accidents sponsored by Chase Sapphire on Main at the Nintendo Chalet. "We all kid with her more than anything."

Banks, who also called J.Law's second Oscar nomination for American Hustle "pretty cool," continued, "A lot of poking fun at her. She can handle it, which is a lovely quality of hers."

So what's the craziest thing Banks has ever seen Lawrence do?

"I could never repeat the craziest," she said. "She'd get in a lot of trouble."

"We don't give away all of our set secrets," Banks said, adding of Lawrence, "She is exactly what people hope that she is, which is really fun, easygoing gal you'd want to hang out with. You definitely want to have a beer with her."

See the video HERE. 

Yeah, yeah, Jennifer Lawrence, blah, blah we love her but - GUYS!! Elizabeth Banks was on the Mockingjay set which means Effie is really in the movie. She's not listed on the IMDB page for Mockingjay Part 1 but now we know she's in the film!

The 'Mockingjay' Team on Marketing and Plans for the Next Two Films

Variety just posted a great article on the Mockingjay films. They spoke with Lionsgate's head of marketing, Tim Palen, producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik, production president Erik Feig, and director Francis Lawrence on everything from the marketing plan to European shooting sites. Read on:

“When we started, we decided to look at this as one big movie that’s eight hours long,” notes Tim Palen, the architect of Lionsgate’s marketing effort. “Otherwise, it’s going to be kind of overwhelming to do a new campaign for each movie.”

Palen admits the bar is set higher for the Mockingjay movies than for the first two pics — even though foreign box office jumped by more than 50% (to $450 million from $283 million) from the first to the second pic.

“A big part of the second film was growing the franchise, and the greatest potential was international,” he says. “We did a major presentation to distributors in Cannes, and did six premieres outside the U.S. And we still have room to grow. We’ve matched Iron Man 3 on domestic, but we can do better on international.”

Mockingjay: Part 1, which hits theaters Nov. 21, takes place in a location far different from the world of Suzanne Collins’ first two books — and the first two movies in which Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen battles through two versions of the gladiatorial Hunger Games. In the coming film, Katniss becomes the poster child of a massive rebellion in a world on the brink of war.

In his promotional materials, Palen used the iconic mockingjay image from the The Hunger Games book covers for the first film as a symbol of freedom and for the second with the pin ablaze. In the third image, the bird is breaking free and taking flight — reminding fans of what they liked about the first two movies and hinting at what’s to come.

Director Francis Lawrence ended Catching Fire with a shot showing a spark in Lawrence’s eyes, followed by the rebels’ mockingjay logo. “It was a great way get from one to the next eloquently and elegantly,” Palen notes.

There will be reveals of the campaign in May at the Cannes film festival and in July at Comic-Con. Until then, Lionsgate is trying to keep specifics under wraps, though director Lawrence allows that the next two films take place in a Panem so devolved as to be barely recognizable.

Much more after the jump!

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