New Character Photos from 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay' Part 1

Through two films we've seen Lionsgate expertly utilize viral marketing and other online strategies in promoting The Hunger Games franchise, and obviously it has worked. That trend continues with Mockingjay part 1, and after releasing an excellent trailer not too long ago, the film's Instagram account has debuted eight new images of the supporting cast.  The photos give us a look at Jeffrey Wright as Beetee, Stanley Tucci as the toothy-grinned Caesar Flickerman, Sam Claflin as Finnick, Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne, Natalie Dormer as Cressida, Elden Henson as Pollux, Wes Chatham's Castor, and Mahershala Ali as Boggs.

Here's the synopsis: The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to set the world on fire with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, which finds Katniss Everdeen in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a nation moved by her courage.

Directed by Francis Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 opens November 21st. 

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See the District 13 Rebellion in New 'Mockingjay' Character Posters

District 13 is not a fun place to be, in fact it looks extremely bleak. But then again, in the world of The Hunger Games, it's not even supposed to really exist. As Katniss begins to lead a rebellion against President Snow and the might of the Capitol, District 13 becomes their new headquarters and judging by these new posters for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1, it can get mighty lonely there.

Lionsgate has continued their massive online marketing campaign for the film by launching a new website and revealing new character-specific posters. They give us a look at Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), Effie Trinkett (Elizabeth Banks), an injured Beetee (Jeffrey Wright), Finnick (Sam Claflin), rebel leader Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee, all of them closed off behind District 13's massive walls.

Presumably there will be more of these posters to come and we'll update this post as they are released. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1 opens November 21st.

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President Snow's Speech is Hacked in New 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' Teaser

"Because now more than ever, Panem is speaking with one voice".  Yeah, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) may want to think again on that score. He's been pushing the unity card pretty hard ever since the last address, and now in this new teaser for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1, his speech is interrupted by the rebel forces he's railing against.

With a brainwashed Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and Johanna Mason (Jena Malone) by his side, Snow's latest Capitol TV broadcast sounds a lot like the first one, and probably would have ended with another thinly-veiled threat against those who oppose him. However, address is soon interrupted by technological wiz, Beetee (Jeffrey Wright), who informs the public that "The Mockingjay lives".

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1 opens November 21st. 


THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 1 - President Snow's Panem Address #2 - 'Unity' by thesevensees

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Robert Redford and Jeffrey Wright to get Evangelical in 'Come Sunday'

Six years have passed since Jonathan Demme's last acclaimed feature, Rachel Getting Married, and in that time he's been busy with under-the-radar projects. But he's making a return now, recently finishing up the Henrik Ibsen adaptation Fear of Falling with Wallace Shawn, and now he's set to direct Come Sunday, a film about evangelical preachers that has two big names set to star.

THR reports that Jeffrey Wright and Robert Redford are eying the film, with Wright starring as the renowned Oklahoma minister, Carlton Pearson. Redford would play the hugely successful televangelist, Oral Roberts, in a role that is guaranteed to draw a lot of attention. Pearson drew attention with his claim that Hell didn't exist and that God would reconcile all sinners. He would soon be ousted from his position and lose everything, branded a heretic by his peers in 2004. Marcus Hinchey wrote the screenplay based on a This American Life broadcast.  Marc Forster had been attached to direct at one point but he remains on board as a producer.

Filming is set to being next year. 

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First Look at Julianne Moore in 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1'

The real victory Lionsgate can claim from The Hunger Games movies so far is that they are more than just blockbuster successes; they are critically acclaimed, as well. That's something Twilight was never able to crack, and Divergent was met with mixed reviews, but The Hunger Games has found a way to make the best of use of its phenomenal cast. Julianne Moore is the biggest name coming aboard for the two-part finale, Mockingjay, and now we've got the first look at her as President Alma Coin.

Lionsgate has released new images from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1, including an image of Moore alongside the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Hoffman completed many of his scenes for the film and CG will be used to recreate the rest. We also get a new poster, some images featuring Jeffrey Wright and Woody Harrelson, and a featurette introducing Alma Coin. Coin is the leader of District 13 and part of the rebellion against the Capitol, although she also has an intense disliking of Katniss.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 opens November 21st, directed by Francis Lawrence.

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Review: 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson

There was something akin to panic when Gary Ross decided one film in The Hunger Gamesseries was enough for him and left to pursue other less stressful projects. When Francis Lawrence took over it was met mostly with vague dismissal, like most of the director's films up to that point. He was always competent, but with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire he takes the franchise boldly out of Ross' shadow by bringing his own streamlined approach to the material, raising the stakes and delivering every significant emotional beat, which are plenty. Catching Fire isn't just a worthy sequel that die-hard fans can appreciate, with its complexity and commitment to character it's a superior film and proves why The Hunger Games is the most compelling franchise going today.

The second of Suzanne Collins' best-selling novels has rightly been compared to The Empire Strikes Back, which should tell all you need to know about the tone. It's dark stuff, so dark that the "kids killing kids" scenario is largely thrown out the window in favor of something even bleaker. But it's also the most ambitious of Collins' book for a reason, as it juggles a rather complicated, downbeat first half with a final act that is the stuff of pure adrenaline. Appropriately, the film begins with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), who has outsmarted the evil and awesomely-bearded President Snow (Donald Sutherland) to survive the previous Hunger Games with her faux lover, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). Their victory and supposed devotion to one another has made them heroes throughout Panem, a fact that has P.O.'ed Snow something awful. Rebellion is brewing throughout Panem's poorest districts, and Snow basically wants Katniss' head on a platter. After a few not-too-subtle threats against Katniss and her family, Snow sends the two champions on a Victor Tour throughout the nation; the better to remind the people of the Capitol's ruthless power.

Killing her would only make her a martyr, and so Snow hires new Gamesmaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman, classing up the joint) with the task of ruining her idyllic image before delivering the killing blow. Plutarch's solution? Alter the 75th Hunger Games, known as the Quarter Quell, by forcing Katniss and Peeta to battle former victors plucked from the previous competitions. The look of horror and resignation on Katniss' face when the announcement is made is heartbreaking, not because it dooms her tenuous love triangle with Peeta and best friend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), but we know it's out of concern for her family. They've already beaten the odds once, and doing so a second time is all but impossible.

While the mood of the film is icy cold, with armed jack-booted Imperial soldiers marching up and down at all times, what few moments of genuine fun come during pre-games rituals. Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) recognizes Katniss' status as a flaming symbol of hope and gives her the extravagant outfits to match. Training sequences show off the director's special effects flair, especially during a scene when Katniss is shooting down burning foes with her trusty arrow. Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) continues to deliver sage but drunken words of wisdom, while Effie Trinkett preens with her pink/blue/orange/whatever hair. In order to survive, Katniss and Peeta will need to make friends again, and this time they've got a motley crew to choose from. Oddball geniuses Beetee (Jeffrey Wright, another touch of class) and Wiress (Amanda Plummer, nice to see again) seem weak but are deadly smart; smirking pretty boy Finnick (Sam Claflin) and the aggressively confrontational Johanna Mason (Jena Malone) could be worthy companions if they can be trusted.

Perhaps what makes The Hunger Games so special is that it can be anything the viewer wants it to be. On a purely entertaining level the film is never boring or slow despite the nearly 2 1/2 hour runtime, a feat that the last movie couldn't equal. There's a greater emphasis on the culture of celebrity obsession this time around, as the people become fixated on Katniss and Peeta's daily lives, and there's a brilliantly poignant moment where Haymitch warns his friends "You never get off this train!” The cameras are always rolling and the spotlight is always on, much like the 24 hour E!/TMZ/YouTube society we live in now. As far as metaphors go, Catching Fire makes its point without being too heavy-handed, and those who choose to simply enjoy the film as a piece of science-fiction can do so. The central love triangle isn't just some weak dramatic crutch where audiences argue over which hunky dude Katniss should end up with. Each character has their battles to fight and tough choices to make, so when the idea of romance does emerge there's always something substantial behind it.

There came a point watching Kristen Stewart slog through playing Twilight's Bella Swan that the actress just looked totally disinterested. What's more, she seemed to have outgrown the role fairly early on but had to see it through to the end. A lot has changed for Lawrence since the last film, and you can see that wealth of experience reflected in her performance. She remains a true shining star with a warrior spirit, growing deeper into the role of Katniss, a character whose stoicism is only matched by her selflessness. The book was able to take us into Katniss' tortured thought process as she was forced to make impossible decisions on the fly, but the ease which Lawrence is able to get all of that across is impressive. Hutcherson is a touch too passive as Peeta, which may be the fault of the script which often has him in the position of needing rescuing. He's a steady, reliable presence throughout, but not terribly exciting.

The games themselves are bigger and more dangerous this time, with everything from lightning strikes to poison gas to killer baboons making their presence felt. Lawrence falls back on Ross' handheld camera technique sparingly, saving it for the most intense sequences and delivering the greatest impact. Overall the action is more polished and professional. No knock against Ross, but action set pieces aren't his strong suit, whereas Lawrence knows them inside and out. Rated PG-13, the film does shy away from excessive violence during combat but remains terribly effective depicting the cruelty of the Capital's Nazi-esque acts against the populace.

While it may be blasphemy to compare The Hunger Games: Catching Fireto The Empire Strikes Back so frequently, there's no denying that both are immensely entertaining, thought provoking films that are so good they make their predecessors better. If this is what the final two movies are going to be like, then the odds will ever be in our favor.

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Trailer for Jim Jarmusch's Vampire Romance 'Only Lovers Left Alive' with Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston

In the works forever, Jim Jarmusch's unconventional vampire romance Only Lovers Left Alive finally hit the festival circuit this year and the response has been incredibly strong. After the questionable, confounding The Limits of Control, some are saying this may be Jarmusch's best film in years, and now the first trailer has arrived so the rest of us can see what all the fuss is about.

Starring Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton as vampires Adam and Eve, the film centers on the long-lived lovers' reunion. But just as they're beginning to enjoy one another's company after living on opposite ends of the world, Eve's sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska) shows up and ruins everything. Jarmusch's cool, languid approach is on full display here, which works nicely with the inherent sexiness of his cast. Other than the occasional flash of fangs you'd barely know this was a vampire movie, but that's always been one of Jarmusch's trademarks using genre as a cover to tackle whatever subjects he finds most interesting.

Also starring Anton Yelchin, John Hurt, and Jeffrey Wright, Only Lovers Left Alive still doesn't have a release date. Will it ever get one? I'm starting to have doubts.

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First looks at Jeffrey Wright and Jena Malone in 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' portraits

So far all of the victory portraits released for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire have focused on characters we're all familiar with. But there are a lot of new additions in the sequel to last year's hit film, most of whom are past victors called back into action by President Snow for the 75th Hunger Games, known as the Quarter Quell. The latest portraits give us our first looks at two of the newcomers, Jeffrey Wright as Beetee and Jena Malone as Johanna Mason.

Complete polar opposites in just about every way, the portraits capture their demeanor perfectly. Beetee was a past victor from District 13, who won putting his genius-level intellect and proficiency with wires to good use. Johanna nicknames him "Volts" at one point, a label which comes to be well-earned.  Johanna is the last surviving victor from District 7, and has a gruff, aggressive demeanor that rubs most people the wrong way. She strips down naked in front of Katniss during their first meeting, just to make her uncomfortable.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hits theaters on November 22nd.  [Mockingjay.net/HuffPo]

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Jeffrey Wright lands role of Beetee in 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'

Now that Lionsgate has settled(quite emphatically so) on Sam Claflin for the sought-after role of Finnick Odair in Catching Fire, there was really only one major slot left to be filled. Months ago when Claflin's name first started being kicked around, we also learned that Tony Shalhoub(Monk) was being eyed for the role of Beetee, the genius victor from District 13 who joins Katniss and Peeta in the 75th Hunger Games. We never really heard anything more about it until now, with the announcement that Jeffrey Wright has joined the cast.

Wright is definitely a step up, and indicative of the franchise's ability to draw big name talent for supporting parts. One of the strongest actors working today, Wright first won me over with his incredible performance in Basquiat, and ever since he's a guy who has shown an ability to do pretty much anything he wants. He was most recently seen last year in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and also starred in Source Code and The Ides of March. Like I said, the guy can do anything.

Beetee plays a crucial role in Catching Fire, drawn back into the Hunger Games after President Snow declares it the Quarter Quell, which forces past winners to fight yet again. Nicknamed "Sparks" due to his skills with electronics, Beetee has mastered the ability to use wire as a destructive force.

If the cast of The Hunger Games was already great, Catching Fire's has only gotten better. Wright joins Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland, Jena Malone, Sam Claflin, Lynn Cohen, and Amanda Plummer with Francis Lawrence taking over as director. Catching Fire opens in theaters on November 22nd 2013.

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Anthony Mackie, Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Hudson, and Jordin Sparks join 'The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete'

We've come to expect Anthony Mackie to be a stand out supporting player, even when overshadowed by bigger name talent. The times when he's fallen way short of expectations have been few, but one time when he most certainly did was when trying to play Tupac Shakur in Notorious, the Biggie smalls biopic. The director of that film was George Tillman Jr., and let's hope their next collaboration does much better.

Mackie, along with the great Jeffrey Wright(Syriana), will star in The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, an indie drama featuring a script by Michael Starrbury. They'll be joined by singers/actresses Jennifer Hudson and Jordin Sparks, indicating their may be some musical bits to the story, which follows two inner-city youths forced to fend for themselves for the summer when their mothers are are taken away by the cops. We don't know who will be doing what just yet, nor who will be playing the two kids.

Tillman and Mackie are in two different places in their careers now, with the former looking to finally make the splash that has avoided him for years. He last directed Dwayne Johnson in Faster, which I enjoyed quite a bit but wasn't particularly memorable. Mackie, who will be appearing in Gangster Squad this September, recently signed on to play Falcon in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Production on The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete is currently underway. [Deadline]


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Two more join George Clooney's 'The Ides of March'

I really wish they had kept the name 'Farragut North'. Not just because I hit up that metro stop every morning, but because it just sounds cool. Much cooler than The Ides of March. Boring! Are we talkin' stuff ol' senate dudes in togas? No.  Anyway, George Clooney's politically charged adaptation of the stage play has already gathered one of the most impressive casts we're likely to see, and now it just got even better as both Max Minghella(The Social Network) and Jeffrey Wright(Basquiat) have been added.

The Ides of March is loosely based on the 2004 Democratic presidential primary campaign of Howard Dean. Ryan Gosling stars as a young campaign advisor working for the Democratic candidate(George Clooney), and discovers that all his intellect may not be a match for the sharpened political manueverings and backroom deals that truly run the Nation's Capital. 

Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, and Philip Seymour Hoffman(still unconfirmed) round out what might be my most anticipated film of next year. When Clooney does politics(such as with Good Night and Good Luck) he can do no wrong in my opinion.

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