The new director of the Hunger Games Francis Lawrence, wants to make the second film even bigger than the first one! According to Lionsgate, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” will feature sequences shot in the IMAX format.
The first film was film digitally remastered for the IMAX format, but this is the first time that sequences will actually be shot in the much larger format.
Due to the higher ticket prices the IMAX showings contributed to the film’s $650 million box-office gross worldwide.
“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is only the sixth major studio release to be partially shot in IMAX. Christopher Nolan began the trend when he shot roughly a half an hour of his Batman sequel “The Dark Knight” on 70mm IMAX film. The follow-up to that film, “The Dark Knight Rises,” is said to contain close to an hour of IMAX footage. Brad Bird also filmed key action set pieces for “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” in the larger format.
Also, Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman has been reportedly offered the role of Plutarch Heavensbee in the upcoming sequel. If accepted, he will play the replacement for Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley), the Head Gamemaker who came to an untimely end in the previous film.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens in theaters on November 23, 2013.
