After just two installments, "The Hunger Games" franchise has become one of the most profitable series in Hollywood history. The first two films have both received rave reviews from critics and earned more than $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office combined. It is easily the most successful young adult adaptation since the "Harry Potter" saga, and the hype for the next movie, "Mockingjay," is beginning to reach a fever pitch.
In this debut teaser trailer, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) feeds his propaganda to his citizens and promises their hard work will be rewarded by this totalitarian government. It’s a nice sentiment, but, as we all know, governments in movies are rarely the good guys. That’s why his chilling statements towards the end of his address serve as a cold reminder of what happens to those who defy his wishes.
The anticipation for "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1" is so high that the new teaser trailer for the movie gained more than 3.9 million hits on YouTube in a mere 24 hours. The teaser focuses only on Snow's Panem Address to the people, so it's very short. While it isn't much, it's more than enough to get fans excited for the next installment.
"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1" will adapt the first half of Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name. By splitting the last part into two movies, Lionsgate will be able to give the grand finale the time it needs to be told. Plus, the extra box office receipts won’t hurt the studio’s bottom line. The movie picks up where the second installment, "Catching Fire," left off. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is now seen as a savior to the people of Panem, who are looking to rise up against President Snow’s regime.
The movie will again be directed by Francis Lawrence, who will also helm the second part in 2015. Along with Jennifer Lawrence and Donald Sutherland, "Mockingjay" will also star Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, and Jeffrey Wright. The movie is also significant because it will feature the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his final roles. That should be more than enough motivation for both diehard and casual fans to get excited about "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1" when it hits theaters on Nov. 21. Until then, check out the teaser below.
