News Analysis India

Tag: The Hunger Games

  • Liam Hemsworth to replace Henry Cavill in The Witcher 

    By Express News Service

    It has been announced that Henry Cavill will be stepping away from The Witcher in the fourth season of the hit epic fantasy show.

    The actor has passed the baton to The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth, who will be essaying Geralt of Rivia in the future seasons.

    In a heartfelt Instagram post, Cavill wrote, “My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4.”

    Announcing the recasting, Cavill shared, “In my stead, the fantastic Mr Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf. As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam’s take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men.”

    “Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him, enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find,” he ended his post.

    Cavill, however, will be seen in the third season of The Witcher, which will hit the streaming platform in 2023.

    The news comes just days after it was announced that Cavill will be reprising his role as Superman in future DC superhero films.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

    It has been announced that Henry Cavill will be stepping away from The Witcher in the fourth season of the hit epic fantasy show.

    The actor has passed the baton to The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth, who will be essaying Geralt of Rivia in the future seasons.

    In a heartfelt Instagram post, Cavill wrote, “My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4.”

    Announcing the recasting, Cavill shared, “In my stead, the fantastic Mr Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf. As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam’s take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men.”

    “Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him, enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find,” he ended his post.

    Cavill, however, will be seen in the third season of The Witcher, which will hit the streaming platform in 2023.

    The news comes just days after it was announced that Cavill will be reprising his role as Superman in future DC superhero films.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

  • Peter Dinklage to feature in ‘The Hunger Games’ prequel 

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: “Game of Thrones” alum Peter Dinklage is the latest addition to the cast of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games” prequel movie “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”.

    The upcoming film is the latest project in the dystopian young-adult franchise based on Suzanne Collins’ novels. It is being adapted from Collins’ 2020 book of the same name, which takes place decades before Katniss Everdeen’s (Jennifer Lawrence) adventures in “The Hunger Games.”

    Dinklage joins the cast which also includes Tom Blyth as young Coriolanus Snow, Rachel Zegler as tribute Lucy Gray Baird and Hunter Schafer as Tigris Snow.

    “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” follows Snow, years before he would become the tyrannical President of the fictional nation Panem, as he is chosen to be the mentor of the 10th Hunger Games, a televised event in which teenagers are chosen via lottery to fight to the death.

    According to Variety, Dinklage will essay the role of Casca Highbottom, who is the dean of the Academy, where Snow is a student. Francis Lawrence, who helmed three of the four “The Hunger Games” films, is returning to direct the upcoming Lionsgate production.

    Michael Lesslie has penned the most recent draft of the screenplay, with initial inputs from author Collins and “Catching Fire” writer Michael Arndt.

    Previously announced cast members of the film also include Josh Andres Rivera, Jerome Lance, Ashley Liao, Aamer Husain, Hiroki Berrecloth and Jason Schwartzman. “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is scheduled for a November 17, 2023 release.

    The project will be produced by Nina Jacobson and her producing partner Brad Simpson, along with Francis Lawrence. Suzanne Collins, Tim Palen, and Jim Miller will serve as executive producers.

    Dinklage is best known for playing Tyrion Lannister in the hit HBO show “Game of Thrones”.

    He has also featured in movies such as “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”, “Death at a Funeral”, “X-Men: Days of Future Past”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and “I Care A Lot”.

    LOS ANGELES: “Game of Thrones” alum Peter Dinklage is the latest addition to the cast of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games” prequel movie “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”.

    The upcoming film is the latest project in the dystopian young-adult franchise based on Suzanne Collins’ novels. It is being adapted from Collins’ 2020 book of the same name, which takes place decades before Katniss Everdeen’s (Jennifer Lawrence) adventures in “The Hunger Games.”

    Dinklage joins the cast which also includes Tom Blyth as young Coriolanus Snow, Rachel Zegler as tribute Lucy Gray Baird and Hunter Schafer as Tigris Snow.

    “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” follows Snow, years before he would become the tyrannical President of the fictional nation Panem, as he is chosen to be the mentor of the 10th Hunger Games, a televised event in which teenagers are chosen via lottery to fight to the death.

    According to Variety, Dinklage will essay the role of Casca Highbottom, who is the dean of the Academy, where Snow is a student. Francis Lawrence, who helmed three of the four “The Hunger Games” films, is returning to direct the upcoming Lionsgate production.

    Michael Lesslie has penned the most recent draft of the screenplay, with initial inputs from author Collins and “Catching Fire” writer Michael Arndt.

    Previously announced cast members of the film also include Josh Andres Rivera, Jerome Lance, Ashley Liao, Aamer Husain, Hiroki Berrecloth and Jason Schwartzman. “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is scheduled for a November 17, 2023 release.

    The project will be produced by Nina Jacobson and her producing partner Brad Simpson, along with Francis Lawrence. Suzanne Collins, Tim Palen, and Jim Miller will serve as executive producers.

    Dinklage is best known for playing Tyrion Lannister in the hit HBO show “Game of Thrones”.

    He has also featured in movies such as “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”, “Death at a Funeral”, “X-Men: Days of Future Past”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and “I Care A Lot”.

  • The Hunger Games prequel gets a release date

    By Express News Service

    We had previously reported that a prequel for The Hunger Games titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is in development at Lionsgate. The studio has now announced the release date of the film. The fantasy adventure will be hitting screens on November 17, 2023.

    The announcement was made through a teaser trailer. Based on Suzanne Collins novel by the same name, the prequel film will follow an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, who is deemed the last ray of hope for his fading lineage in a post-war Capitol.

    Tom Blyth of Benediction-fame will be playing Coriolanus Snow, while Rachel Zegler will be essaying the role of Lucy Gray Baird. Francis Lawrence, who helmed the three films in the franchise, will be directing the film.

  • Rachel Zegler cast in ‘Hunger Games’ prequel as Lucy Gray Baird

    By IANS

    LOS ANEGLES: ‘West Side Story’ actor Rachel Zegler is set to star in ‘The Hunger Games’ prequel ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’.

    Zegler had prompted speculation about her casting after she tweeted on Monday night: “Listen up.. can y’all grow restfully? are you becoming an individual resting decisively?” As eagle-eyed fans pointed out, the first letter of each word in her tweet spells out the main character’s name, Lucy Gray Baird.

    https://t.co/CCjQ7DIncN pic.twitter.com/EXKXqnzLne
    — rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) May 31, 2022
    The movie is being adapted from Suzanne Collins’ 2020 book of the same name, which takes place decades before Katniss Everdeen’s adventures in ‘The Hunger Games’, reports ‘Variety’.

    That means Jennifer Lawrence, who shot to superstardom as the Girl on Fire, does not appear in the prequel story.

    Instead, ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ centres on Coriolanus Snow, an ambitious boy who eventually becomes the tyrannical leader of the dystopian country of Panem.

    As previously announced, Tom Blyth (‘Billy the Kid’ and ‘The Gilded Age’) will play the young Snow.

    In the upcoming movie, 18-year-old Snow is chosen to mentor Lucy Gray, the female tribute from the impoverished District 12, during the 10th Hunger Games.

    As introduced in ‘The Hunger Games’ trilogy, which were developed into four feature films, the barbaric televised event randomly selects two teenagers from each district to fight to the death.

    In the novel, the unassuming Lucy Gray sparks everyone’s attention by singing during the reaping ceremony. With her talent and charm, Snow believes he may be able to turn the odds in their favour to win the games.

    Given Lucy Gray’s vocal prowess, it’s no surprise that Zegler, who beat out thousands to star as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed ‘West Side Story’ remake, landed the lead role in ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’.

    Zegler will appear next in ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ alongside Zachary Levi, Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu; and Disney’s live-action ‘Snow White’.

    “When you read Suzanne’s book, Lucy Gray’s emotional intelligence, physical agility, and fiercely powerful, determined singing voice shine through. Rachel embodies all of those skills – she is the perfect choice for our Lucy Gray,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Nathan Kahane.

    ‘Hunger Games’ veteran Francis Lawrence returned to direct the upcoming film, which will begin production later this year. Michael Arndt, who wrote the franchise’s second installment ‘Catching Fire’, was intended to write the screenplay, but he’s passed on duties to Michael Lesslie (‘Macbeth’, starring Michael Fassbender).

    “Like everybody, I first saw Rachel Zegler in ‘West Side Story,’ and like everybody, I knew I was watching a star who would command the screen for a generation,” said Francis Lawrence.

    “Lucy Gray is a perfect match for her as an actress: the character is bold, independent and defiant, but also vulnerable, emotional and loving. Rachel will make this character unforgettable.”

    Franchise producer Nina Jacobson and her producing partner Brad Simpson will oversee the latest ‘Hunger Games’ installment, along with Francis Lawrence. Collins, Tim Palen and Jim Miller will serve as executive producers.

    “Lucy Gray is an incredibly complex character, a performer who has to use every skill in her arsenal to survive,” Jacobson said. Our casting team, Deb Zane and Dylan Jury, spearheaded an exhaustive search, reading hundreds of actors in search of our perfect Lucy Gray.

    That search ended when Rachel Zegler blew the roof off with her depth and breadth of talent as an actor, singer and performer. Rachel is utterly compelling; just like Lucy Gray, her voice and charisma command the stage while her inner strength and humanity transform those around her.”

    ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ will be released in theatres on November 17.