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Dope Thief showrunner Peter Craig has quietly been one of Hollywood’s go-to writers for crime drama the last 15 years.

In 2010, Craig transitioned from a crime novelist to an in-demand screenwriter thanks to his co-writing credit on Ben Affleck’s crime thriller The Town. Craig then showed his versatility by adapting Suzanne Collins’ Mockingjay into The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Part 2, before bringing his own crime novel, Blood Father, to the big screen in 2016. Since then, he’s collected a co-writing credit on Bad Boys for Life, as well as story credits on Top Gun: Maverick and Gladiator II. But he’s always returned to his bread and butter in the crime genre, most notably as the co-writer of Matt Reeves’ The Batman.

Based on Dennis Tafoya’s Dope Thief, Craig’s first foray into television premieres Mar. 14 on Apple TV+, and the 8-episode crime drama merges...

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When Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson announced the end of their marriage, fans were baffled.

The couple had been together for over a decade, and they seemed to have it all.

Many wondered what could have possibly led Jessica to pull the plug on what appeared to be a blissful marriage.

And now, it seems we have our answer …

Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson arrive at the White House Correspondents’ Association (Whca) annual dinner in Washington on May 3, 2014. (Nicholas Kamm/Afp via Getty Images) Did Jessica just drop a truth bomb in her new song?

At the start of this year, we learned that Jessica was planning a musical comeback. And this week, she followed through on that promise with the release of “Leave,” her first single since 2008.

Fans were thrilled to see Jessica get back to what made her famous. But many were also deeply upset by the song’s lyrics,...

Exclusive: Actor Elden Henson has signed with Prototype Talent Agency for theatrical representation.

Henson was most recently seen in Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award-nominated film Killers of the Flower Moon opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone. Previously, he was seen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and 2.

On the television side, Henson portrayed Foggy Nelson on all three seasons of Netflix’s Daredevil and made guest appearances on several shows in the Netflix-Marvel universe including Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and he recurred on The Defenders. He’ll next be seen reprising the role of Foggy Nelson in Disney+’s Daredevil: Born Again.

Best known for his iconic role of Fulton Reed in The Mighty Ducks film trilogy, he also reprised his role in the Disney+ series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.

Henson continues to be repped by Principal Entertainment LA.

Jennifer Lawrence Set Prank (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Alright, picture this: You’re on the set of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, living the dream, and then Bam — your co-stars decide to pull the prank of a lifetime. That’s exactly what went down for Jennifer Lawrence, and trust me, it’s as hilarious as it is disgusting.

So here’s the deal. Jennifer opened Tiffany’s box, thinking she’s about to get something shiny and sweet. But nope. Instead, she finds… crickets. Yep, a whole box of those little guys, and it was the ultimate gut-punch. “I got a Tiffany’s box filled with crickets!” Jen shared at the LA premiere. Talk about a letdown. “It was the most awful combination of feelings in the world,” she added. “Tiffany’s! Jeffrey!” The culprit? Jeffrey Wright (aka Beetee) thought it’d be hilarious to prank her with the grossest surprise ever.

Exclusive: And Just Like That…‘s Sarita Choudhury has signed with Innovative Artists for representation in all areas.

Choudhury portrays the fan favorite character of Seema Patel in Max’s And Just Like That.. alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis. The third season of the Sex and the City sequel series is expected to be released later this year.

Choudhury’s other television work includes recurring or guest-starring roles in Prime Video’s Fallout, as well as Homeland, Little Fires Everywhere, Jessica Jones, Ramy and Blindspot among others.

On the film side she has appeared in The Green Knight, Learning To Drive, After Yang, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Part 2, A Hologram for The King and Lady in the Water.

Choudhury’s debut role was in Mira Nair’s Mississippi Masala, starring opposite Denzel Washington.

She continues to be represented by manager David Lewis.

Charli XCX is set to star in and produce “The Moment” at A24, according to an insider with knowledge of the project.

Based on an original idea by the “Brat” singer, it will be the first project under her production company Studio365. Plot details about “The Moment” are being kept under wraps.

Also producing is David Hinojosa of 2Am. Executive producers include Brandon Creed, Mikey Schwartz-Wright and Zach Nutman.

The film is the feature directorial debut of Aidan Zamiri, with a screenplay written by Zamiri and Bertie Brandes. Charli’s frequent collaborator A. G. Cook will compose the score.

A24 will handle the global release of the film.

Charli Xcx was also previously announced to co-star in two upcoming feature film projects: “Faces of Death” for Legendary and the Gregg Araki thriller “I Want Your Sex.”

Of course, Charli is no stranger to the world of film. Among other things,...

The box office has always been an important indicator of a movie's success or failure, but in 2024, the box office has proven that movies are making more and more money than they ever did ten years ago. It should be no surprise that the media landscape has changed in the time between 2014 and 2024. Audience interests have changed and new technology and talent have raised the stakes. However, 2024's top movies not only made significantly more money than 2014's top movies, but the movies and IPs that enjoyed these successes have changed drastically as well.

The change in box office numbers and trends from 2014 to 2024 may seem arbitrary, but they say a lot about the future of cinema. Major corporations like Disney, Marvel, Sony, and more are relying on box office numbers to stay afloat. If these companies begin to see decreasing box office numbers, this could put their popularity in jeopardy.

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Few things caught on in Hollywood during the 2010s quite like the YA movie adaptation. Much of that had to do with the phenomenon of the "Harry Potter" films and the wildly unexpected success of "Twilight" in 2008. But it was in the aftermath of that success that Lionsgate truly hit the jackpot with "The Hunger Games" in 2012. Based on Suzanne Collins' popular book series of the same name, the films take place in a dystopian future where the haves make the have-nots face off in a deadly competition annually from one of 12 Districts of Panem.

While the books themselves were certainly successful, director Gary Ross' "The Hunger Games" was a breakout box office success story that paved the way not only for this franchise to flourish in the years that followed, but for a slew of other YA series to...

Francis Ford Coppola apologizes for his role in prompting an undesirable Hollywood trend. Considered a master of cinema, Coppola is behind some of the most notable works of the 20th century. Most significantly, he directed the Godfather trilogy, which began with The Godfather in 1972 and continued with The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III in 1974 and 1990, respectively. Other notable works by Coppola have included the war epic Apocalypse Now and the surveillance drama The Conversation. This year he directed Megalopolis, which has become one of 2024's most notorious films.

Speaking with The Washington Post, Coppola apologizes for a movie trend he inadvertently started. According to the director, he decided to tack on the "Part II" label to his Godfather sequel after seeing Russian filmmakers do it with the movie Ivan the Terrible. While the studios resisted at first, worrying that moviegoers would think the same movie had been released,...

Wicked Box Office (North America): Surpasses Grease In Just 8 Days (Photo Credit – Instagram/Prime Video)

The box office is exploding with tentpole movies and has recorded one of the biggest Black Friday collections ever in North America. Wicked is already set to be one of the biggest movies of the year, and it has once again set a new record even before saying goodbye to the second weekend. It has surpassed Grease’s domestic haul to become the highest-grossing musical adaptation and the first to achieve another huge feat. Scroll below for the deets.

Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, was released in 1978. The musical rom-com was directed by Randal Kleiser and based on the 1972 musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. It revolves around the lives of greaser Danny Zuko and Australian transfer student Sandy Olsson, who develop a deep attraction for one another during a summer romance.

Wicked Box Office (North America): Debut Weekend Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Wicked has created history by beating Frozen’s debut weekend collection and even goes closer to Frozen 2’s numbers. The numbers are exceptional, and it is one of the best debuts of all time for a musical adaptation. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who are in the lead roles, have been widely praised. The musical fantasy also entered the list of top-10 biggest openings for November releases. Scroll below for the deets.

Frozen is a Disney animated musical fantasy film released in 2013. It is inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s 1844 fairy tale, The Snow Queen. Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee directed it. It remained the highest-grossing animated film until The Lion King came out in 2019. It won many accolades, including two Academy Awards.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s musical fantasy opened in the theatres on Friday.

Screenwriter Peter Craig, who co-wrote the upcoming Gladiator II, and producer Bryan Unkeless, known for such fare as I, Tonya and Project Power, have teamed up to launch film and television production banner Night Owl.

It’s no small flex to launch a shingle in the current Hollywood climate, but the two players have extremely enviable track records and, more importantly, come with several projects already zipping along the development tracks.

There’s the adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s wildly popular novel Remarkably Bright Creatures, which is set up at Netflix with Where the Crawdads Sing filmmaker Olivia Newman attached to direct and Sally Field attached to star. (Fun fact: Craig is Field’s son.)

There’s Tropical Underworld, a crime drama series set in Hawaii and based on a Bloomberg article written by Chris Pomorski. The project sold in a competitive bidding war to Fifth Season, which beat out such companies as A24,...

In a 2023 interview, Jennifer Lawrence revealed whether she would be open to returning to her role as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games movies, but regardless of her answer, the situation is quite complicated. From 2012 to 2015, Lawrence portrayed the young adult heroine in the movie adaptations of Suzanne Collins' incredibly successful Hunger Games books. Audiences watched Lawrence fight for her life, fall in love, and take down an oppressive government, all of which were well received by critics and audiences. Lawrence's Hunger Games journey ended nearly 10 years ago, but her story may not be over yet.

The Hunger Games franchise has made an unexpected resurgence in recent years. Katniss's story ended with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, yet Collins released a new spinoff novel in 2020, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which received a movie adaptation in 2023. Notably, this spinoff does not include Katniss, instead following the youth of Panem's president,...

Character actor Nicholas Pryor passed away from cancer at his home in North Carolina on October 7, 2024, at the age of 89. Pryor performed in films, television shows, and Broadway productions for over seven decades. His wife Christine Belford confirmed the cause of death.

Pryor displayed a wide range of roles throughout his long career. He appeared in iconic films like “Risky Business” and “Airplane!” in memorable parts. Born in 1935 in Baltimore, Pryor began acting on stage after studying at Yale University. He performed for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and made his Broadway debut in 1957.

Pryor took on numerous roles in daytime soap operas from the 1960s onward. His first part was in the original cast of “Another World” in 1964. Much later, he portrayed Victor Collins on the spinoff series “Port Charles” from 1997 to 2002. Beyond soap operas, Pryor had a recurring role on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and guest starred in many other popular shows.

Nicholas Pryor, who played a father to both Tom Cruise and to Robert Downey Jr. in “Risky Business” and “Less Than Zero,” died Oct. 7 of cancer in Wilmington, N.C. He was 89.

His agent, Susan Tolar Walters, said, “He was one of the nicest people I have ever met and he will be missed.”

The actor, whose career spanned seven decades, also portrayed the father of Kathleen Robertson’s character in “Beverly Hills, 90210” for 26 episodes from 1994-1997. From 1997-2002, Pryor starred on the “General Hospital” spinoff “Port Charles,” playing former spy Victor Collins. His career on daytime soap operas also included stints in “The Secret Storm,” “The Edge of Night,” “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” “All My Children” and “Another World.”

Some of Pryor’s other on-screen credits include “Halloween Kills,” “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” “The Outsider,” “Doctor Sleep,” “A Summer’s Day,” “Buster’s Mal Heart,...

Nicholas Pryor, the busy character actor who portrayed Tom Cruise’s father in Risky Business and Kathleen Robertson’s dad on Beverly Hills, 90210 during a career that spanned seven decades, has died. He was 89.

Pryor died Monday of cancer at his home in Wilmington, North Carolina, his wife, actress Christine Belford, told The Hollywood Reporter.

In a note to be delivered to THR after his death, he wrote: “Nicholas Pryor was enormously grateful to have been, for nearly 70 years, a working actor.”

From 1997-2002, Pryor played the former spy Victor Collins on the General Hospital spinoff Port Charles, culminating a long career in daytime soap operas that included stints on The Secret Storm, The Edge of Night, Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, All My Children and Another World.

Pryor recurred on Fox’s Beverly Hills, 90210 as A. Milton Arnold, the chancellor of California University and father of Robertson’s Claire Arnold,...

The Hunger Games franchise star Josh Hutcherson has given his views on the franchise's legacy and its future direction. Based on the dystopian novel series by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games became a huge hit upon its release in 2012, grossing almost $700 million and making stars of its cast members, including Jennifer Lawrence and Hutcherson, who portrayed Peeta Mellark. The franchise originally ran four movies, concluding with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 in 2015, before returning with a 2023 prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

In an interview with Esquire, discussing his upcoming horror-comedy sequel movie Five Nights At Freddy's 2, which is due to begin filming in several weeks, Hutcherson addressed the Hunger Games franchise, its impact, and his hopes for the future. The actor spoke of his pride at being part of the initial iteration of a franchise that continues to grow. He also elaborated...

Tony McFarr, a stuntman best known as the double for actor Chris Pratt in blockbusters like Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, died as the result of an irregular heartbeat due to an issue with his heart valves, the Orange County Florida Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to Deadline.

Ruling the death accidental, the Me’s Office says McFarr died of probable cardiac dysrhythmia due to mitral valve insufficiency. Contributing factors include alcohol poisoning and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, known as Copd, a common lung condition that causes constriction of the airways and difficulty in breathing.

McFarr was found dead at his Florida home outside of Orlando on May 13. He was 47.

McFarr launched his career as an uncredited stunt double for Geoff Stults on Bones in 2011. He went on to perform as a stunt double in the films Rock of Ages, Teen Wolf, The Glades, Burn Notice and,...

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes made $337.3 million worldwide, turning a profit on its $100 million budget. President Snow's portrayal didn't resonate with audiences, lacking the suspense and empathy of past characters. Possible future Hunger Games prequels may hinge on the success of Suzanne Collins' upcoming book, Sunrise on the Reaping.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes reveals that a different Hunger Games prequel should have been made. Based on the 2020 Suzanne Collins novel of the same name, the film launches audiences back to 64 years before 2012s The Hunger Games. It chronicles the story of a young Coriolanus Snow later to become the infamous President Snow as he helps mentor District 12 firecracker Lucy Gray Baird for the 10th annual Hunger Games.

By the time The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes came out, it had been eight years since theatrical audiences had last entered the world of Panem. Set so...

Jena Malone eagerly awaits a possible return to The Hunger Games franchise as Johanna Mason. Malone suggests exploring a sequel set after the Capitol's downfall or before Katniss' volunteering. Director Francis Lawrence is open to developing familiar characters with rich, thematic stories.

Jena Malone, who portrayed the fierce and formidable tribute, Johanna Mason, from District 7 in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, recently expressed her enthusiasm at the possibility of returning to the popular franchise should a sequel ever be made. Malone reprized her role from the 2013 movie again in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2 and was a memorable part of the trilogy, and now, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the Golden Globe nominee reflected on her time playing the emotionally scarred victor of the 71st Hunger Games as well as a proud participant of the third Quarter Quell.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire PG-13ActionAdventure...

Sutherland astutely embodied President Snow's tyranny in the Hunger Games franchise. Snow's calculated psychology, power plays, and ominous interactions are captured by Sutherland's nuanced portrayal. Sutherland's impeccable performance adds depth and chilling realism to Snow, elevating the character and the story's complexity.

The Hunger Games movie franchise was lucky to have Donald Sutherland playing the primary villain of President Coriolanus Snow, whose best scenes offer the most poignant illustration of the tyranny the characters are fighting. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) finds herself at the center of a conflict over the dystopian country of Panem, where President Snow and in a secondary sense, President Alma Coin (Julianna Moore) embody corrupted power, committing heinous acts to maintain that power. Snow is such an interesting villain because he has a great understanding of the psychology of the people he is trying to subjugate.

Throughout the Hunger Games movies, Sutherland perfectly portrays Snow's thought process.

Modern-day fans know Donald Sutherland as the villainous President Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games franchise. When the films were released, Sutherland excitedly promoted the films, speaking highly of them. He even called Jennifer Lawrence, who played the lead Katniss Everdeen, a genius and compared her to Jesus Christ.

Donald Sutherland in The Hunger Games | Color Force

The legendary actor passed away at the age of 88 on Thursday. He had been suffering from a long illness and the news of his passing was announced by his son and actor Kiefer Sutherland. With a film career spanning more than half a century, Donald Sutherland starred in almost 200 films.

Donald Sutherland Compared His The Hunger Games Co-Star To Jesus Christ

Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games | Color Force

Donald Sutherland amazed fans with his villain performance in Jennifer Lawrence‘s The Hunger Games. Playing President Snow in the four films, Sutherland was...

Stuntman Tony McFarr, who served as a body double for actor Chris Pratt in multiple blockbuster movies, has passed away. His passing was first reported on by TMZ with a subsequent announcement on the Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home in Merritt Island, Florida, confirming the news.

Reportedly, McFarr unexpectedly died on May 13 at his Orlando home of undetermined causes. A medical examination has taken place with pending toxicology results. According to McFarr's mother, the stuntman had been active and healthy, making his passing very shocking. McFarr was 47 years old.

McFarr's stunt career began in 2011 with work on an episode of the hit series Bones. He'd go from there to work on many major productions as a stunt performer, such as other shows like Teen Wolf, Burn Notice, One Tree Hill, MacGyver, The Walking Dead, and Homeland. He's also doubled for Jon Hamm in Tag and worked on motion pictures like Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,...

Jessica Simpson’s height of 5ft 2 ½ (158.8 cm) is considered short compared to the average height of an American woman, which is around 5ft 4 inches (162.5 cm).

She is about 1.5 inches (3.7 cm) shorter than the average American woman and approximately 6 ½ inches (16.5 cm) shorter than Nick Lachey.

Jessica Simpson stands at 5 feet 2 ½ inches (158.8 cm), while Nick Lachey’s height is 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm), making him 6 ½ inches (16.5 cm) taller than her (Credit: DFree / Shutterstock)

Public Perception and Media Comments on Height

The New York Times wrote that the first thing that surprises you when meeting Jessica Simpson is how short she is:

When Jessica Simpson walks into a room you’re surprised by three things. The first, and they warn you about this — they say all celebrities are, but trust me, you can’t really wrap your brain around it until you are staring down at a strip of white scalp, bending a mile...

Hello, and welcome to the Scene 2 Seen Podcast. I am Valerie Complex, an associate editor and film writer at Deadline. Today I’m chatting with Power Book III: Raising Kanan star, Patina Miller. As a major talent across film, television and musical theater Miller portrays Raquel “Raq” Thomas on the Starz original series which is coming up on the end of its third season.

Raising Kanan is the third show in the Power Universe. This one is about a young Kanan Stark (played by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s character from the first series) and how he joins his family’s growing and dangerous drug business. It takes place in Queens, New York during the 1990’s.

Raq is the mother of Kanan. To Kanan, she might come across as affectionate, yet on the streets, she embodies the epitome of toughness, navigating the male-dominated world with a blend of coldness, determination,...

Warning: Spoilers lie ahead for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes!

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes star Nick Benson opens up about the change to his character's fate from the prequel novel, saying, "Okay, cool. We can work with that." Despite the alteration, Benson remained true to the general arc of his character, finding the change to be just a small tweak. The change in his character's fate didn't significantly impact Benson's approach to playing the character, but rather served as a minor adjustment.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes actor Nick Benson shares his reaction to his character's fate being changed from the source material. Benson plays Jessup, the District 12 male tribute who is infected with rabies prior to the tenth Hunger Games, and is among the tributes who dies in the arena.

While speaking with ComicBook.com, Benson explains...

The Hunger Games is one of the most popular dystopian young adult book series, which was later adapted to the screen. And the movie adaptations of The Hunger Games turned actors like Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth into household names. Jennifer Lawrence especially became an international sensation after her portrayal of The Hunger Games' heroine, Katniss Everdeen.

Lawrence and her co-stars cemented their careers with the release of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 and Part 2. The Hunger Games franchise also had established actors like Donald Sutherland and Julianne Moore in starring roles, earning them recognition among a younger demographic. Once The Hunger Games movie series ended, some of the actors went on to star in critically acclaimed shows and movies, while others won several accolades.

Sam Claflin Went on To Earn His First Golden Globe Awards Nomination Close Sam Claflin...

Josh Hutcherson reflects on the scene in 2012's The Hunger Games when Peeta avoids detection by painting his face to look like a boulder. The actor questions whether a baker would have the necessary tools, time, or skill to do this, and recalls having doubts while filming the scene. Despite this far-fetched scene, the first Hunger Games movie still holds up due to its world-building, character introductions, and action.

The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson comments on Peeta's infamous camouflage scene. Based on the novels by author Suzanne Collins, the first movie in the Hunger Games franchise was released in 2012, bringing the epic story of Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss to life. While the first movie earned positive reviews for its intense action sequences and compelling characters, the scene in which Hutcherson's Peeta paints his face to look like a rock still stands out as one of the franchise's more far-fetched moments.

Julianne Moore's decision to star in The Hunger Games franchise was influenced by her daughter's love for the books. Moore initially bought the books for her son, but ended up being captivated by the story herself and saw a potential role for her. The possibility of a Hunger Games prequel exploring the backstory of Moore's character, President Coin, has been suggested, particularly in relation to a fan theory linking her to a character from the latest installment.

Julianne Moore reveals what prompted her decision to star in The Hunger Games franchise as President Alma Coin. First introduced in 2014’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Moore played the calculating President of District 13 and a key figure in the second rebellion of Panem that sought to overthrow the tyrannical government of Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland). Hiding her ruthless ambition behind a deceptive mask of carefully measured civility, Coin was...

Here’s your guide to every movie and TV show leaving Netflix Canada in January 2024.

In case you missed it, we also covered all the movies and TV shows leaving Netflix Canada in December 2023.

Some great movies are leaving Netflix Canada in January 2024, including James Cameron’s award-winning juggernaut Titanic, beloved coming-of-age comedy 13 Going on 30, powerful WW2 drama The Pianist, and slasher switch-up Freaky.

Please Note: This is not the full list of everything leaving Netflix UK in January 2024. More departures will be announced throughout December 2023 and January 2024.

Movies and TV Shows Leaving Netflix Canada on January 1st, 2024 13 Going on 30 (2004) A Dog’s Purpose (2017) The Bride of Habaek (1 Season) Bridesmaids (2011) Burlesque (2010) The Change-Up (2011) Christmas Under Wraps (2014) Christmas With a View (2018) Countdown (2019) Cutthroat Island (1995) The Danish Girl (2015) Dreamgirls (2006) DreamWorks Shrek the Halls (1 Season) Falls Around Her (2018) Football-Inspired Workouts for All (2023) N Freaky (2020) Full Out 2: You Got This! (2020) The Girl on the Train...

Philip Seymour Hoffman, an American actor, was probably best known for playing deplorable characters in many successful films. His career began in 1991, when he appeared in the series Law & Order, playing the role of a young thug in season 1 episode "The Violence of Summer". From 1992, he began playing supportive roles in films like Scent of a Woman (1992), Magnolia (1999), and Along Came Polly (2004). As his career grew, Hoffman eventually played leading roles and won the Academy Award for Best Actor in the movie Capote (2005). Being a successful actor was not the only accomplishment under his belt; Hoffman was also a film director, who had his first film, Jack Goes Boating, debut in 2010.

Unfortunately, in his youthful years, Hoffman struggled with drug addiction, and though he managed to abstain for several years, he relapsed in 2012 and died of combined drug intoxication on February 2, 2014. At this time, he was filming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.

The Hunger Games Created by: Suzanne Collins First Film: The Hunger Games Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Willow Shields, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman Movie(s): The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Finnick's death scene in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 is one of the most emotional and controversial moments in the franchise. Finnick's death was essential to the narrative, as it upped the stakes of the plot and dealt with the harsh realities of war. Finnick's death added thematic depth to the story by highlighting the unfairness of life and war, and the manipulation and targeting of even those favored by the Capitol.

Snow's laughter when Katniss kills Coin hints at his enjoyment of the irony and the fact that he has momentarily escaped death. Katniss kills Coin because she sees through her facade and realizes she would be another dangerous leader who perpetuates evil. Katniss allows Snow to live because she knows the revolution is beyond her and wants to show that others in power should also be worried.

Snow laughed when Katniss killed Coin in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, showing that Panem's deposed tyrant may have known something about Katniss's actions that viewers — and maybe even Katniss herself — didn't. The shocking scene was meant to be the official end of Former President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the beginning of a new age for Panem. However, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) obviously didn't agree. Katniss had good reason since she spent the bulk of her time watching those in...

"The Hanging Tree" in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is revealed to be written by Lucy Gray, who witnessed a hanging at The Hanging Tree. Katniss Everdeen's version of "The Hanging Tree" in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 was inspired by Lucy Gray's song, with some changes made to inspire rebels. Exploring the origins of "The Hanging Tree" adds depth to the world of The Hunger Games and continues to build upon the popularity of the song.

Director Fancis Lawrence explains "The Hanging Tree" origins and Katniss connection in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The prequel follows a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and the events leading to his corruption, as he mentors Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) during the 10th Annual Hunger Games. "The Hanging Tree," sung by Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1,...

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a record-breaking prequel that follows the early years of Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth, as he mentors tributes in the 10th annual Hunger Games. The movie is projected to earn $42 million over the Thanksgiving weekend, making it the number one movie at the domestic box office. Its 3-day total is $24.8 million, the smallest week 2 drop in the entire Hunger Games franchise.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has broken a record for the franchise. The new release is a prequel to the Hunger Games movies, adapted from the 2020 novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. It stars Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow, the future President of the dystopian nation of Panem, and tracks his early years as a mentor for the 10th annual Hunger Games, where he trains and strikes up a relationship with District...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes!

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes underperformed at the box office and received poor critical reviews, putting the franchise in a questionable spot. The decision not to split The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes into two movies was influenced by the backlash to the two-part Mockingjay movies. Splitting The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes into two movies would have allowed for better character development and a more consistent tone and narrative.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is the first new installment in the franchise since the two-part Mockingjay movies ended the original series, and it proves the wrong lesson was learned from their performance. Years after The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 and Part 2 were made and released in theaters, Suzanne Collins' announcement that a prequel book was in...

Lionsgate’s prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes opened at China’s movie box office in third place over the weekend, losing to two holdover local films and earning just $4.6 million. It’s just the latest disappointing performance by a U.S. franchise film in the market.

Songbirds & Snakes has earned low to middling social scores from Chinese audiences, and ticketing app Maoyan projects it will total only about $7 million by the end of its run.

Songbirds & Snakes opens eight years after the last Hunger Games title played in theaters and 12 years after the first film hit the big screen. The previous four Hunger Games films, based on Suzanne Collins’ dystopian YA novels and starring Jennifer Lawrence, all performed considerably better in China than the new title. The Hunger Games (2012) earned a total of $27 million, while The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) took $28 million, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1...

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has claimed the top spot at the box office, beating out its competitors. This prequel adaptation explores the early life of President Coriolanus Snow and the origins of the Hunger Games. With a massive $19.1 million opening day, Ballad is on track for a successful $45 million opening weekend, driving for a positive outcome for the $100 million film.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has taken the #1 spot at the box office for the weekend. The movie is set long before Katniss' story in the original Hunger Games movies and serves as an adaptation of Suzanne Collins' prequel book of the same name. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes explores the life of President Coriolanus Snow long before he actually secures a place as President of Panem. It also shows the development of the Hunger Games as a competition and entertainment product.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 received mixed reviews, with some feeling that the ending was anticlimactic and focused too much on action sequences. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 lost some of its allure by moving away from the Hunger Games and splitting the final book in two, but it deepened the Everdeen family dynamic. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is considered the strongest film in the franchise, with amplified energy, higher stakes, and a breathtaking arena for the Quarter Quell Hunger Games.

Of the five Hunger Games movies in the franchise, they all rank fairly high among fans, but some are certainly better than others. The original movies brought the world of Panem to life, and they also made Jennifer Lawrence a household name. The Hunger Games book series by author Suzanne Collins has gained an immense fan following since its debut in 2008, and it didn't...

Tom Blyth listened to "Money Power Glory" by Lana Del Rey while shooting The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes. Meanwhile, costar Rachel Zegler had Joan Baez on her Hg prequel playlist. All of it filtered into the creative mix, helping the actors stay grounded in their characters, and bring the highly anticipated Hunger Games prequel film to life.

The action-adventure drama, directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1), and written by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt, hits theaters November 17. The plot, which unfolds 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem, also stars Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), Josh Andrés Rivera (West Side Story), Jason Schwartzman (Asteroid City), and Viola Davis.

In a recent moderated press conference we attended, Blyth and Zegler shared more about the massive production, what they...

War movies, whether based on historical events or fictional scenarios, can effectively convey the horrors of war and teach important lessons. Fictional war movies, like World War Z and The Hunger Games, can explore hypothetical situations and question human nature during wartime. Movies like Starship Troopers and Pacific Rim use the medium of sci-fi to criticize violent conflict, highlight the power of unity, and showcase humanity's adaptability in the face of adversity.

While war movies based on historical fact like Saving Private Ryan and Apocalypse Now are celebrated, completely fictional movies still have some insightful things to say about war. They can be used to effectively convey the horrors of war and teach the audience that such conflicts are not to be taken lightly. On the other hand, historical inaccuracies and dramatizations in war movies sometimes make a spectacle out of sensitive subject matter that should not have been adapted without being extensively researched first.

The Hunger Games franchise director, Francis Lawrence, did not support the decision to split the final novel into two movies and wishes they had made one complete movie instead. Lawrence now sees the decision to split the movie as detrimental to audiences because it can be manipulative and annoying to make people wait a year for the second half. The criticism caused Lawrence to insist on making Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes into one movie despite it being the longest Hunger Games novel in the series.

The Hunger Games franchise director Francis Lawrence addresses the controversial decision to divide the adaptation of the final novel Mockingjay into two movies. Suzanne Collins' 2010 novel served as the conclusion to the initial Hunger Games trilogy, following former games Victor Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) as war breaks out across Panem, where she grapples with being a figurehead of the resistance against the Capitol. The...

At the time of writing, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 67%, making it the worst-reviewed entry in the franchise. The film falls just short of both The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2, which both have 70% scores. While star Rachel Zegler is frequently cited as a high point, the Lucy and Coriolanus' dynamic and overall runtime have drawn criticism.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' Rotten Tomatoes score is here, and it sets an undesirable new record for the franchise. Directed by franchise veteran Francis Lawrence, who has helmed every Hunger Games movie so far, the upcoming film follows a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and his relationship with Rachel Zegler's Lucy Gray Baird during the 10th iteration of the titular games.

Now, ahead of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' release date,...

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes star Rachel Zegler says her character, Lucy Gray Baird, has a lot in common with original Hunger Games protagonist Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) despite having no links to the legacy character.

Speaking to ComicBook during a virtual conference, Zegler explained the similarities between Lucy and Katniss. "I feel like Lucy Gray is a war-torn teenager who's had everything she knows ripped from her, yet she's still making the best of it," the actor said. "And so it was very similar to Katniss in that perspective, but she's a very different dynamic in response to being placed in an arena in front of a bunch of people and having to make the world root for her. She's very good at that."

Hunger Games Prequel Director Discusses Potential For Additional Films

"She's very persuasive in her performance and very good at...

The dystopia of Panem, the setting of The Hunger Games, compelled tributes between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete in yearly fights to the death. Under President Snow's (Donald Sutherland) totalitarian watch, two contestants from each of the nation's 12 districts would face off in a live broadcast for the rich residents of the Capitol. The rationale? To maintain harmony among the districts and avoid another civil war. The franchise centers on District 12 tribute Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), who volunteers to participate in the games in lieu of her younger sister and ultimately sparks an uprising.

The Hunger Games, based on the best-selling book by Suzanne Collins, surpassed the opening-weekend sums for the first Harry Potter and Twilight films, raking in a whopping $152 million domestically (per Box Office Mojo) when it debuted in March 2012. Besides lead actress Jennifer Lawrence and the amazingly talented Donald Sutherland, The Hunger Games also stars...

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will possibly have a disappointing box office opening. The Hunger Games sequel is simply too removed from the story of Katniss Everdeen to interest some moviegoers. A considerable amount of time has passed since The Hunger Games movie series ended, which may be impacting interest in the new movie.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the next entry in the popular movie series, which itself is based on the novel franchise from Suzanne Collins. Adapting the 2020 prequel book, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes a look at the series' Districts before the time of Katniss Everdeen. Unfortunately, this narrative placement may be one of the reasons why the movie is seeing a less than hot anticipation.

Early box office predications for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes aren't completely bad, but they're definitely a step-down from the movie franchise's heights.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes almost became two movies due to its long runtime. The decision to keep the film as a single installment honors the source material and diverges from past franchise-splitting trends. While there may be cut scenes, the longer runtime allows for a grand and epic experience for viewers who have waited eight years for a new Hunger Games film.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes director contemplated following in the footsteps of the two Mockingjay films for the prequel film. Directed by Francis Lawrence, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes adapts the Suzanne Collins prequel novel of the same name. The plot focuses on the story of a young Coriolanus Snow, later known as President Snow, as he comes of age and trains District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird for the Tenth Hunger Games.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly,...

The Hunger Games franchise offers different ways to watch the movies, with alternate viewing orders based on personal preference. The Hunger Games movies were released in chronological order, following the story of the trilogy, but the prequel film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, takes place before the original four movies. The first movie, The Hunger Games, sets the tone for the rest of the franchise and explores the brutal nature of the Hunger Games competition, while the final movie, Mockingjay - Part 2, concludes the story with a glimpse into the future of the main characters.

The Hunger Games franchise is one of the biggest in the world, and the franchise's expansion gives audiences a couple of different ways to best watch the movies. This series was one of the pivotal teen dystopian series that really caught the attention of young readers, but it was one of...

Lionsgate's The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is eyeing a franchise-low opening weekend.

On Thursday, Deadline reported that the Hunger Games prequel is tracking for a $50 million start when it opens next month.Should that number hold, that would mark the lowest opening in the Hunger Games franchise. For comparison’s sake, The Hunger Games opened to $152.5 million back in 2012, while The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opened with $158 million. The final two films, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, opened with $121.8 million and $102.6 million, respectively.

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Trailer Explores the World of Panem

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which was made for approximately $100 million, is a prequel to the beloved franchise and takes place 64 years before the events of the original series. The story focuses on the 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow,...

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is projected to have a disappointing opening weekend, expected to earn only $50 million. This would make it the lowest-grossing opening weekend in the franchise's history, surpassing the previous record set by Mockingjay - Part 2. Despite the low projection, there is still hope that the prequel can find success by reaching a breakeven point of $200 million worldwide.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is projected to break an unpleasant box office record for the franchise. Adapted from the Suzanne Collins prequel novel of the same name, the newest installment takes on the coming-of-age story of a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) who mentors District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) in the 10th Hunger Games. Alongside Blyth and Zegler, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes cast also includes Viola Davis (Dr. Volumnia Gaul), Peter Dinklage (Dean...