It all started back in 2008, when relatively unknown author Suzanne Collins introduced readers to the dystopian world of Panem, an unlikely hero named Katniss Everdeen, and a brutal tradition known as The Hunger Games. Collins achieved critical acclaim for her 5-part fantasy series The Underland Chronicles, but it wasn’t until the release of 2008’s The Hunger Games did she become a household name for young adult and adult readers alike.
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Flash-forward to 2012. Millions of people have now read all three books in the The Hunger Games trilogy, and the release of the first film in the series generates a worldwide gross of over $690 million. Audiences are captivated with newcomers Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. Both actors had appeared in many projects before The Hunger Games (such as Jennifer’s Oscar nominated performance in Winter’s Bone, and Josh’s appearances in book to screen adaptations Zathura, Bridge to Terabithia, and Journey to the Center of the Earth),but, like Suzanne Collins, it wasn’t until their work in THG did they become the well-known faces they are today.
As of November 21, audiences will get to take part in the beginning of the THG saga’s epic conclusion, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1. It is expected to be one of the highest grossing films of the year, rivaling summer blockbusters Transformers: Age of Extinction and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Filming for Mockingjay began slightly over a year ago in September, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia, and continued in other locations around the state before production moved to Europe. Paris and Berlin were the primary filming locations overseas.
The film picks up immediately where Catching Fire leaves off. Katniss is brought to the secret remains of District 13, a District long thought to have been destroyed and abandoned. Katniss soon learns that the leaders of District 13 intend to use her as a symbol for the impending revolution against the Capitol. Meanwhile, Peeta has been taken back to the Capitol, essentially being held prisoner while the President plans for war.
With any book to screen adaptation, it can be expected that there will be some changes, often to the disappointment of those who read the book. Sometimes changes are made because there simply isn’t enough time to include everything. Since the film is being split into two parts, a la Harry Potter and Twilight, it’s possible that fewer things will change or be omitted.
What’s your favorite part of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay? Let us know in the comments section!
Mockingjay, Part 1 opens Friday, November 21.