'The Hunger Games:' New Image and One-Week IMAX Announcement

Thursday, 02 February 2012 09:55 Written by Jordan DeSaulnier

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'The Hunger Games:' New Image and One-Week IMAX Announcement

It's been a few days since Lionsgate released a new still from The Hunger Games, so here we are with yet another new image from the adaptation of the young adult bestseller by Suzanne Collins. At this rate, shortly before the movie hits theaters, you'll be able to pirate the whole thing as a flipbook made up entirely of all the stills released online over the last several months. There's other The Hunger Games news today, too, as IMAX has announced that the film will be receiving a one-week limited engagement in the jumbo-sized format next month.

First up, we've got the image, which features Lenny Kravitz and Jennifer Lawrence as Cinna and Katniss, sharing a quiet, close moment before Katniss heads out to stay alive in the titular survival competition. The still debuted at Rolling Stone, and the accompanying article focuses on Kravitz. The musician made his feature debut in 2009's Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire, and in the article he explains why he took the role of Cinna.

And now we've got the IMAX announcement. The Hunger Games will be presented in two dimensions, and it feels these days as though a proper event movie has to either be in 3D, IMAX, or both. Since Lionsgate is doing everything it can to make this film an event, it's appropriate that the studio would arrange an IMAX run, even if it is limited. When The Hunger Games arrives on March 23rd, it will get one week in IMAX, wedged between the IMAX 3D releases of Disney's John Carter and Warner Bros.' Wrath of the Titans.

Here's the full press release:

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2, 2012 — IMAX Corporation and Lionsgate today announced that Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games, the first installment of the trilogy based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novels, will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX® format and released in IMAX® digital theatres in North America day-and-date on Friday, March 23, 2012. The film will have a limited one week engagement in IMAX theatres.

Written and directed by Gary Ross and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik, The Hunger Games: The IMAX Experience stars Academy-award® nominated actress Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novels have already developed a massive global following, with more than 23.5 million print copies in the United States alone.

“With this news, the release of The Hunger Games has truly become an epic event,” said Lionsgate’s Joe Drake. “The Hunger Games and IMAX are a match made in heaven – fans love this book because its world is so vividly imagined and seeing the film in IMAX will make them feel as if they have landed right in the middle of the action. It is the ideal way for fans to experience this film for the first time.”

“The Hunger Games is one of the most popular properties in recent memory and we’re excited to offer this passionate fan base the opportunity to experience this exciting adventure in the most immersive way,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “We’re proud to kick off our relationship with Lionsgate around this highly anticipated film that will make a strong addition to our 2012 film slate.”

The IMAX release of The Hunger Games will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Gary Ross, who previously wrote and directed Pleasantville and Seabiscuit, has been handed the reigns of this franchise, as he's directing here and is set to return for the sequel, Catching Fire. But for now let's focus on the first film, which stars Lawrence and Kravitz, along with Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworh, Elizabeth Banks, Wes Bentley, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, and Toby Jones.