Out of the Comic-Con presentation is a full-length preview for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, director Francis Lawrence‘s follow-up to the hit young adult actioner from last year. While the main players — i.e. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, Woody Harrelson; a lot of people! — have made their return, the second of four installments brings with it a further crop of talent: Philip Seymour Hoffman, (far and away) most notably, along with Jena Malone, Amanda Plummer, Sam Claflin, and Jeffrey Wright. I almost feel bad for not taking this enterprise a little more seriously.
Most of the talent is hidden in this full trailer, however, which shows Lionsgate as wise enough not to display much altogether — snatches of three full scenes, a few money shots in-between, and just about nothing else. The lack of huge material notwithstanding, one can still detect a change in structure and direction from the respectable-if-minor original, that eponymous competition not even (as far as I can tell) on display. (Much of that film’s weaker bits came from such sections, so yours truly finds it appreciable.) Trailer-inspired dreams of a movie solely centered on Hoffman and Sutherland sharing a room and chewing the fat will need to wait, clearly, but this might be a decent way to bide time nevertheless.
You can see the preview below (via Yahoo!):
Synopsis:
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 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will open on November 22.
What are your impressions from this trailer? How does it appear to shape up against the original?