THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE BEGINS PRODUCTION

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 10, 2012  /PRNewswire/ --  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. 

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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.    

ABOUT THE HUNGER GAMES FRANCHISE

The first installment of THE HUNGER GAMES franchise has already grossed more than $408 million at the North American box office and nearly $700 million at the box office worldwide. THE HUNGER GAMES recently passed HARRY POTTER as the top-selling book series of all time on Amazon, taking into account print and Kindle sales combined.  There are more than 50 million copies of THE HUNGER GAMES in print in the U.S. alone.  

THE HUNGER GAMES sold an estimated 3.8 million DVD and Blu-ray units in its first weekend of release, continuing the momentum it demonstrated in generating more than $408 million at the North American box office, the 13th highest grossing North American release of all time. 

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. 

ABOUT THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

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.  

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

Full information about the film's cast is available at www.catchingfirecasting.com

ABOUT LONSGATE

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company has built a significant television presence in production of primetime cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 23 shows on 16 networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including the multiple Emmy Award-winning "Mad Men" and the critically-acclaimed series "Weeds," "Nurse Jackie" and "Boss," the new network series "Nashville" and "Next Caller," the Charlie Sheen sitcom "Anger Management," the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," its spinoff "Meet the Browns," "The Wendy Williams Show" and "Are We There Yet?" and the upcoming "Orange Is The New Black," an original series for Netflix.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first installment of "The Hunger Games" franchise, which has grossed nearly $700 million at the worldwide box office, "Cabin In The Woods," "Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection" and "Margin Call." With the January 2012 acquisition of Summit Entertainment, the Company added the blockbuster "The Twilight Saga," which has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, to a slate that already included its "The Hunger Games" franchise and now has the two premier young adult franchises in the world.  Recent Summit hits include "Red," "Letters to Juliet," "Knowing," and the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, "The Hurt Locker."

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 15,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

For More Information Contact:

Lionsgate – Film Division
Kate Hubin Piliero
310-255-4064
[email protected]

Lionsgate – Corporate Inquiries
Peter D. Wilkes
310-255-3726
[email protected]

SOURCE LIONSGATE