Jeffrey Wright will be playing Beetee, the last important character in the Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire. Beetee is one of the returning tributes in the 75th Hunger Games Quarter Quell that uses a special sort of technology during the games to compete. Wright joins the likes of Jena Malone, Sam Claflin, and Amanda Plummer in the sequel.
In other news, production has began for the sequel and will be in theaters by November 22, 2013. To celebrate the start of production, Lionsgate is holding a special contest for fans in which twelve fans will be able to tour the production set. All you need to do to enter is upload a thirty second video with a question for one of the cast members or play their Facebook game (you can read all of the info of their contest here). So enter the contest, ask the cast weird questions on my behalf, and come back and tell me if you win so we can share your glory. I believe in our weirdness!
Press release for the start of production and set visit contest below this sentence.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE BEGINS PRODUCTION
Lionsgate Announces Start Of Principal Photography And Set Visit Sweepstakes For Fans
SANTA MONICA, CA (September 10, 2012)- LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, today announced the start of principal photography on the highly anticipated sequel to the worldwide blockbuster film THE HUNGER GAMES. Beginning today, THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will shoot primarily in existing locations in and near Atlanta, Georgia. The film will subsequently be shot on location in the beaches and jungles of Hawaii before wrapping in late December, 2012.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be released worldwide on November 22, 2013, and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Jeffrey Wright, with Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland.
Said Lionsgate’s President of Production Eric Feig, who is overseeing the production on behalf of the studio, “We are so excited to be embarking on this adventure with Francis Lawrence, who has already exhibited immense creative vision and resourcefulness in casting the film and planning its look and feel. The stakes are raised in every way in this second story, and we are thrilled to get the production underway in these perfect locations, with our excellent returning cast and some world class actors in new roles.”
“Lionsgate has been a longtime partner of Georgia’s entertainment industry being the first production company to take advantage of our film tax incentives in 2005. The fact that they are continuing to bring productions including this high profile franchise to Georgia reaffirms their commitment to our talented crew, diverse locations and accessibility,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Cummiskey.
Lionsgate also announces a global set visit sweepstakes. “THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE- Win a Trip to Set” will run September 10
th through October 12
th 2012, offering twelve lucky fans a chance to visit the set of the film and interact the with cast and crew. To enter, fans based in the participating territories (the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Scandinavia, Russia, Israel, and Japan) will upload a :30 second video of their top question for the film’s cast. Additionally, “virtual” citizens of Panem will be able to enter by playing The Hunger Games Adventures – one of the top adventure games on Facebook and coming soon to iPad. Full rules and regulations are posted on the contest Facebook tab, and at
www.catchingfiresweeps.com.
