The Hunger Games
Short description
In a future North America known as Panem, a powerful Capitol rules over twelve districts and stages an annual televised event called the Hunger Games. Each district must send one boy and one girl, chosen by lottery, to fight to the death until a single survivor remains. When her younger sister is selected, sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her place, joining fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark in the arena. The two must navigate the games while deciding how far they will go to survive.
Gary Ross directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Billy Ray and Suzanne Collins, whose novel is the source. The film follows Ross's Pleasantville and Seabiscuit and precedes Free State of Jones and Ocean's Eight in his filmography. Jennifer Lawrence plays Katniss, with Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy, Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna.
Produced by Jon Kilik and Nina Jacobson for Lionsgate and Color Force, the film cost about 75 million dollars and earned roughly 694 million dollars worldwide. Critical and audience responses align closely: it holds a 7.3 rating from critics, and a 7.2 on IMDb from over a million votes and a 7.2 on TMDB.
What's left behind the scenes
- In Katniss's memories, the pig feeder Peeta has brown hair, while throughout the film he is blonde.
- Besides Josh Hutcherson, Hunter Parrish, Lucas Till, and Evan Peters were contenders for the role of Peeta.
- After Rue's death, a wide shot shows Katniss arranging flowers around her, and Rue is holding a white bouquet, but when the camera zooms in, Katniss places the same bouquet back into the girl's hands.
- Besides Liam Hemsworth, David Henry, Robbie Amell, and Drew Roy were contenders for the role of Gale.
- Since Woody Harrelson is a vegetarian, in food scenes Heimitz either eats only fruit or simply drinks.
- Director Gary Ross cast Lenny Kravitz as Cinna without an audition, impressed by his performance in the 2009 film 'Treasure'.
- Steven Soderbergh directed the second unit for a segment relating to events in District Eleven.
- During the reaping scene, a wide shot shows only the microphone and chairs, but in the next shot, when Effie Trinket walks onto the stage, a bowl with balls suddenly appears.
- Around 30 actresses were considered for the role of Katniss, including Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Emma Roberts, Saoirse Ronan, Chloe Grace Moretz, Lyndsy Fonseca, Jodelle Ferland, Emily Browning, Shailene Woodley, and Kaya Scodelario.
- When Donald Sutherland stumbled upon the film's script, it reminded him of Stanley Kubrick's 'Paths of Glory', after which the actor wrote a letter to director Gary Ross detailing why he should play the role.
- At the beginning of the film, Katniss takes a bow with an already drawn string from a tree. Anyone who has ever practiced archery knows that a bow is not stored with a drawn string (especially not outdoors), as it significantly damages the bow.
- During the reaping ceremony in District 12, only Effie Trinket has a microphone, however, when Katniss and Primrose speak, their voices also sound as if they are speaking through a megaphone or microphone.
- After Katniss blows up the food and equipment supplies, there are no traces of an explosion or scattered earth in any subsequent shots of the location.
- Lenny Kravitz, cast as Cinna, Katniss' stylist, is actually twice the age of his character.
- English distributors demanded that Lionsgate cut some particularly violent scenes, resulting in the film being seven seconds shorter.
- It took Jennifer Lawrence 3 days to agree to the role of Katniss Everdeen.
- As the parade of twelve chariots moves in a circle, fans throw flowers and various gifts onto the road, but when a wide view of the procession is shown, the participants' path is completely clear.
- Alexander Ludwig, cast as Cato, could have played the role of Peeta Mellark.
- Elizabeth Banks turned down a role in Oliver Stone's 'Platoon Leader' for the role in 'The Hunger Games'.
- When Peeta attempts to throw steel balls and spears, Cato, Marvel, and Glimmer laugh at him before he even throws, but after he does, Glimmer disappears and is replaced by Diadem.
- Following the set designers' vision, only 20 pedestals could be placed around the Cornucopia in the arena, instead of the planned 24.
- John C. Reilly auditioned for the role of Haymitch Abernathy.
- As Katniss twirls, showcasing her fiery dress, one can notice a strand of hair coming loose, but it's back in place in the next shot.
- When Katniss shouts “I volunteer!”, her hair is unkempt and messy, but in the next shot, her hairstyle is already neatly styled.
- The film is based on Suzanne Collins' novel "The Hunger Games" (2008).
- For the role of Cato, Alexander Ludwig trained for 4 hours a day at a Navy SEAL training camp.
- Katniss begins sawing a branch with wasps using the sharp side of the knife, but in the next frame the blade is already reversed.
- In one interview, Wes Bentley said that Seneca’s beard was made from his real beard without any additional effects or fake hair, forcing him to live with such a 'decoration' in real life as well.
- Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth, both natural blondes, had to dye their hair brown, while Josh Hutcherson, a brunette, transformed into a blonde for his role.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
