'The Hunger Games' to get one-week IMAX release

IMAX Corporation and Lionsgate on Thursday announced that Lionsgate’s "The Hunger Games," the first installment of the trilogy based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novels, will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX format and released in IMAX digital theatres in North America day-and-date on Friday, March 23. The film will have a limited one week engagement in IMAX theatres.

The film hits theaters March 23.

Written and directed by Gary Ross and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik, "The Hunger Games: The IMAX Experience" stars Academy-award nominated actress Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth.

Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novels have already developed a massive global following, with more than 23.5 million print copies in the United States alone.

“With this news, the release of 'The Hunger Games' has truly become an epic event,” said Lionsgate’s Joe Drake. “'The Hunger Games' and IMAX are a match made in heaven--fans love this book because its world is so vividly imagined and seeing the film in IMAX will make them feel as if they have landed right in the middle of the action. It is the ideal way for fans to experience this film for the first time.”

“'The Hunger Games' is one of the most popular properties in recent memory and we’re excited to offer this passionate fan base the opportunity to experience this exciting adventure in the most immersive way,” said Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “We’re proud to kick off our relationship with Lionsgate around this highly anticipated film that will make a strong addition to our 2012 film slate.”

The IMAX release of 'The Hunger Games' will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology

'The Hunger Games' will feature two new President Snow scenes

Next month's adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" will include two scenes featuring President Coriloanus Snow that were not in the best-selling novel.

Donald Sutherland

According to Entertainment Weekly, actor Donald Sutherland ("The Mechanic"), who is portraying Snow in the upcoming film, wrote to director Gary Ross seeking the role.

"It was a long thoughtful analysis of the way power is wielded and why, how it controls people and what the use of the Games were and how pernicious they were and the way that they were used as an instrument of political control," Ross told EW. "It was so eloquent and brilliant that it actually inspired me to write two extra scenes for him that I think are pivotal in the movie and that Suzanne really loves."

Ross said he came up with the new scenes while filming in Asheville, N.C.

"So I sat down in this chair and stared at the lake and came up with these two scenes," he said. "And I realized that not only were the scenes vital but they actually fit a piece that was missing. That was a gift I got from the actor."

Snow has a limited role in "The Hunger Games" novel but is featured much more prominently in the two sequels, "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay."

"The Hunger Games" will hit theaters March 23.

Steven Soderbergh speaks out about 'The Hunger Games'

A month after it was first reported that Steven Soderbergh ("Ocean's 11," "Traffic") was on the set of "The Hunger Games" helping out with some second unit work, the director is speaking out about his experiences with the project.

Steven Soderbergh

Attempting to quash rumors why he was he was helping out, Soderbergh spoke with Moviefone, saying, "I show up in North Carolina, a crewmember Tweets, 'Steven Soderbergh's here.'' And immediately the...firestorm starts. 'Why is he here? What's going on? Is the movie in trouble? Is he directing footage from the second one?" All of this crazy-ass speculation. People just spinning off.

Soderbergh and "The Hunger Games" director Gary Ross have worked together before, as the former helped produce the latter's 1998 film "Pleasantville."

According to Soderbergh, "The story is really simple. Back in April, Gary--who is a close friend of mine I've exchanged creative favors with non-stop over the last 15 years--when he got the boards for the shoot in April called me and said, 'Hey, first week of August, I got these two days of second unit. Is there any way you can come down and help me out? Because I'd rather have you do it than hire somebody who I don't know.' I said, 'Actually, that works out.' We'll just be finishing 'Contagion' and prepping 'Magic Mike' and, yeah, it could be fun."

First teaser of 'The Hunger Games' to debut during MTV VMAs

Fans of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" will get their first taste of Lionsgate's film adaptation Sunday evening when lead actress Jennifer Lawrence unveils a clip during MTV VMAs telecast.

The film will debut March 23, 2012.

"The Hunger Games" is being directed by Gary Ross ("Seabiscuit," "Pleasantville") based on a screenplay from Bill Ray ("State of Play"). It is set for a March 23, 2012, release and is expected to be rated PG-13.

Lawrence ("Winter's Bone," "X-Men: First Class") plays Katniss Everdeen, who along with Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson, "Bridge to Terabithia") are forced to enter a battle to the death with teenagers from the 12 districts of Panem.

The cast also includes Donald Sutherland ("The Mechanic") Lenny Kravitz ("Precious"), Woody Harrelson ("Zombieland"), Liam Hemsworth ("The Last Song"), Elizabeth Banks ("The Next Three Days"), Paula Malcomson ("Sons of Anarchy"), Wes Bentley ("American Beauty"), Stanley Tucci ("The Lovely Bones") and newcomer Willow Shields ("Beyond the Blackboard").

'Catching Fire' will blaze into theaters Thanksgiving 2013

There's no time like the present to plan ahead. At least that seems to be the thinking in Hollywood these days.

The sequel will be released Nov. 22, 2013

Lionsgate announced today that "Catching Fire,"  the second film in "The Hunger Games" series, will be released Nov. 22, 2013. The first movie, which is still filming with director Gary Ross, won't hit theaters under March 23, 2012.

The films are based on the best-selling books by Suzanne Collins which include "The Hunger Games," "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay."

The Hollywood Reporter quoted Lionsgate co-COO and Motion Picture Group president Joe Drake saying, "The magical thing about 'The Hunger Games' trilogy is that the books have such a vastly broad appeal. The stories truly offer something for everyone, and the period around the Thanksgiving weekend is such an opportunity for families and friends to make an event of going to the movies."

It was reported in June that Lionsgate had included options in the all of the actors' contracts for a possible fourth film should the studio decide to split the final book in two, following the trend set by the "Harry Potter" and "Twilight" franchises.

At the time I said I wasn't convinced "Mockingjay" really needs to be spread over two movies, but having seen the success of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," I'm more open to the idea. Still, a final decision won't be made until the studio sees how well the returns are for the first film.

This news comes on the heels of Columbia Picture's announcement that the sequel to next summer's "The Amazing Spider-Man" will be released May 2, 2014.

Steven Soderbergh helping out 'The Hunger Games'

Director Steven Soderbergh ("Ocean's 11," "Traffic") has joined "The Hunger Games" production as second unit director.

Entertainment Weekly today confirmed earlier reports Soderbergh was helping out the project.

The film arrives March 23, 2012.

“It’s true he’s shooting two days of second unit,” director Gary Ross told EW. “He’s one of my best friends and we all help each other a little bit on these things.”

In addition to his work here, Soderbergh produced Ross' 1998 film "Pleasantville."

Ross also gave EW an update on where filming is on the adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best selling trilogy.

“We’ve already done a lot of action-y stuff,” Ross said. “We’ve burned down a forest, we’ve had the fire sequence, we blew up this pyramid of stuff that went 150 feet up in the air, and we had suitcases flying over a quarter of a mile.”

The cast for "The Hunger Games" includes Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone"), Josh Hutcherson ("Bridge to Terabithia"), Donald Sutherland ("The Mechanic") Lenny Kravitz ("Precious"), Woody Harrelson ("Zombieland"), Liam Hemsworth ("The Last Song"), Elizabeth Banks ("The Next Three Days"), Paula Malcomson ("Sons of Anarchy"), Wes Bentley ("American Beauty"), Stanley Tucci ("The Lovely Bones") and newcomer Willow Shields ("Beyond the Blackboard").

The film is set for a March 23, 2012, release.