With the potential mega-franchise “The Hunger Games” opening in just over a month, Lionsgate has unleashed another trailer, and though it’s short, it’s packed with new information.
After volunteering to take the place of her younger sister in the televised to-the-death combat of the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen (“X-Men: First Class'”Jennifer Lawrence) exchanges goodbyes with childhood friend Gale (“The Expendables 2’s” Liam Hemsworth) and heads to the futuristic capitol of Panem, where she meets the supporting cast: Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks. As the blue-haired Regis Philbin-like TV personality Casar Flickerman, Stanley Tucci interviews a glammed-up Katniss and the other tributes before they go to war. We also get more of a look at Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Katniss’ competitor-turned-ally. Elizabeth Banks looks appropriately shrill and garishly made-up as escort/publicist Effie Trinket.
While there’s very little footage from inside the actual arena, we get brief glimpses of the beginning of the games, some fiery carnage and lots of rousing music. Lionsgate and director Gary Ross (“Seabiscuit”) are smart to not give away too much of what happens in the arena, where 24 kids are to fight to the death in front of millions of home viewers, and where allegiances change in the blink of an eye.
In short, we’re excited to see more.
Watch the trailer at the top of the page, and give it a grade.
“The Hunger Games,” based on Suzanne Collins’ novel, opens nationwide March 23.