It's still a year out from release, but Lionsgate is wasting no time building up anticipation for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.  Since the sequel is still in production, it's too early for your standard poster or even a teaser poster, really, so instead we've got a motion poster that adds a bit of movement to a familiar, fiery image.

Synopsis: Life doesn’t always go according to plan… Pat Solitano has lost everything–his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother and father after spending eight months in a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet–and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives.

Director Francis Lawrence is in the middle of production on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the second installment in Suzanne Collins's hugely successful young adult novel trilogy.  Apparently Lionsgate is confident in Lawrence's moves, though, because the studio has reportedly signed Lawrence to direct the two-part adaptation of the climactic book.

Surprising news: Matthew Vaughn has backed out of directing X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Being a prequel, last year's X-Men: First Class had a straightforward narrative, basically a hetero love story gone awry between Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr.  For the sequel, however, director Matthew Vaughn is mixing things up by telling the first cinematic X-Men story built around time travel.  Mark Millar, 20th Century Fox's shepherd for their Marvel Comics properties, is talking up X-Men: Days of Future Past in Millar-ian fashion, revealing just a little bit about the story.

Four new movies entered American theaters and the list of top ten movies for the weekend.  Of those four, Hotel Transylvania made the biggest impression, setting a record for the biggest September opening of all time.  Looper, meanwhile, did much better than many observers were predicting in second place, and Pitch Perfect started out strong in a limited release.

It's a late September surprise, as a pair of new releases in wide release are tied for the top spot at the domestic box office with a baseball/familial drama nipping at their figurative heels in third place.

Synopsis: Seeking a fresh start, newly divorced Sarah (Oscar®-nominee Elisabeth Shue; Leaving Las Vegas, Piranha 3D) and her daughter Elissa (Oscar®-nominee Jennifer Lawrence; The Hunger Games, X-Men: First Class) find the house of their dreams in a small, upscale, rural town. But when startling and unexplainable events begin to happen, Sarah and Elissa learn the town is in the shadows of a chilling secret. Years earlier, in the house next door, a daughter killed her parents in their beds, and disappeared - leaving only a brother, Ryan (Max Thieriot, My Soul to Take), as the sole survivor.  Against Sarah's wishes, Elissa begins a relationship with the reclusive Ryan - and the closer they get, the deeper they're all pulled into a mystery more dangerous than they ever imagined.

Opening in theaters on September 21st is the new horror-thirller House at the End of the Street from director Mark Tonderai (Hush). The film stars an excellent cast of actors that includes Academy Award-nominee Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games), Academy Award-nominee Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas), Max Thieriot (Jumper), and Gil Bellows (The Shawshank Redemption).

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to speak with director Mark Tonderai, as well as actor Max Thieriot about their work on House at the End of the Street. The director discussed the new film, its intricate plot, and casting Jennifer Lawrence, while Thieriot talked about his role, collaborating with Tonderai, and acting opposite two former Oscar-nominees. 

Just a few days ago, Lionsgate announced yet another excellent actor was officially on board The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and now the studio has declared that production on the sequel is underway.  To really get fans in a lather, there's also a competition that will allow somebody to eventually make their way to the set.