Principal Photography Begins On THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE – In Theaters November 22, 2013

Principal photography has started 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. Lionsgate’s 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.

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.

Following the release of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013, the final installments, THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART I, and THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART II are scheduled for respective November 21, 2014 and November 20, 2015 releases.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark.   Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts.  Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75^th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 50 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.