The Hunger Games is a dystopian saga set in the post-apocalyptic future of Panema country made up of the opulent Capitol and 12 impoverished districts. Every year, as punishment for a past rebellion, the Capitol organizes the macabre Hunger Games, a televised event in which a boy and a girl from each district must fight to the death until a single survivor remains. The protagonist, Katniss Everdeenvolunteers to take her younger sister’s place in the games, unleashing a series of events that will challenge the established power and ignite the spark of a rebellion.
Behind the success of the franchise there are a series of fascinating anecdotes and details that have kept fans intrigued for years. From the selection process Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, the rigorous physical training of the actors, to the small complications on the set, the secrets behind the production of The Hunger Games reveal how much work and dedication was required to bring this epic story to the big screen. These are 20 of the secrets that will surely surprise you:
When it is said that all the young actresses volunteered as a tribute to play Katniss Everdeenthe heroine with bow and arrow The Hunger Gamesit is said seriously. Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Emma Roberts, Saoirse Ronan, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jodelle Ferland, Lyndsy Fonseca, Emily Browning, Shailene Woodley, Kaya Scodelario and Troian Bellisario auditioned, but the nominee for Oscar Jennifer Lawrence It was the director’s first choice Gary Ross For the movie. “I absolutely chose the right person for the role and, in my opinion, there was not even a question about who was the best.” Katniss“, said Ross to Entertainment Weekly in 2011. “It was the easiest casting decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
Jennifer Lawrence He needed time to decide if he wanted to take on the role of Katniss Everdeen, as she was nervous about the level of fame she would be catapulted to. “It was midnight in England and I was in bed when I got the call,” Lawrence told MTV News. “And I was so in love with the books and the script, that suddenly it was in front of me and the magnitude of the decision was terrifying.” In the end, she was her mother, Karen Lawrence, who convinced her. “He called me a hypocrite, because when I was making independent movies and everyone was asking me why I didn’t make studio movies, I said, ‘The size of the movie doesn’t matter,’” Lawrence recalled.
After what Lawrence was officially announced as Katniss, the Internet was angry that the 20-year-old actress was older than the character, who is 16 in the first book, and that she was (gasp!) blonde. But Ross He wasn’t worried about the initial reaction and told Entertainment Weekly that the author of The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collinsapproved the casting of Lawrence. “Not only did Suzanne have no problem with Jen’s age, but she felt that it took someone with a certain maturity and power to be Katniss“, said.
TO Lawrence They paid him 500 thousand dollars for the first film. For the sequel, On fire In 2013, it raised $10 million.
For the role of Peeta Mellarkcompanion of district 12 and eventual love interest of Katnissthey auditioned Alexander Ludwig, Hunter Parrish, Lucas Till and Evan Petersbut was finally chosen Josh Hutcherson. “When I read the book, I thought Peeta “It would be the most difficult role to cast and I feel very lucky to have found someone who embodies all aspects of such a complex character,” he said. Ross in a statement to the press.
For the role of Gale Hawthornethe disturbing childhood best friend of Katniss, Liam Hemsworth defeated David Henrie, Drew Roy and Robbie Amell. “Gale is a young man who uses words very sparingly, so the responsibility fell on the actor we chose to capture him showing it, not telling it,” the producer said. Nina Jacobson.
The three protagonists had to dye their hair for the film: Hemsworthnaturally blonde, darkened his hair, Hutcherson she bleached her hair and Lawrence she became a brunette after an extensive process to find the right shade. The head hair designer and stylist Linda Flowers revealed to Cosmopolitan in 2014 they rented six $5,000 wigs in a variety of brown colors, and Ross finally he chose the darker shade.
To prepare for the role, Lawrence He underwent various training methods. “It’s a lot of training, but it’s actually a lot of fun,” she told MTV News. “I’ve been doing archery for about six weeks, rock climbing, tree climbing, sparring, running and jumping. But also yoga and things like that, to continue being a cat.”
Lawrence He had an accident on the last day of his six-week training program and hit a wall during an exercise. “I ran over there and my foot wouldn’t rise, so I hit the wall with my stomach,” he revealed. Lawrence to The Hollywood Reporter. “My coach thought he had burst my spleen. I had to have a CT scan.” Fortunately, nothing was broken and Lawrencebruised, was able to continue.
Hutcherson He also trained extensively before filming and told Collider in 2012: “I had never done that for a movie. “I gained about 15 pounds of muscle, so I ate a lot of chicken and a very high protein, low carb diet.”
Hemsworth revealed that his older brother, Chris Hemsworth movie actor thor, offered some tips to prepare for the movie. “My brother texted me before filming and he told me to lose weight,” he revealed to The Hollywood Reporter. “He said: ‘It’s called The Hunger GamesNo food games!’”.
Several weeks after filming, Lawrence knocked unconscious Hutcherson when he accidentally kicked him in the head. “She was being a real braggart, thinking that she was Jackie Chan or something like that,” he recalled. Hutcherson in an interview with Yahoo. “[Ella] He was kicking in the air and saying, ‘Josh, I can kick your head in!’ And then crack! He hit me in the temple… I don’t really remember, because they knocked me out.” When Hutcherson When he came to, he said, “I was crying. She felt terrible. I woke up with her [llorando]lying on me.”
During filming in North Carolinathe cast and crew faced 100-degree heat, daily rain, and bears that wandered onto the set when they smelled food.
Woody Harrelson He initially turned down the role of his drunken mentor twice. Katniss and Peeta, Haymitch Abernathyadmitting The Hollywood Reporter in 2017: “I had no idea it would be this big, but I didn’t think it was a good role. I made a mistake. It was a great part and it was a fantastic thing, but thank God, Gary Ross my name is”.
Elizabeth Bankswho played Effie Trinket, needed daily manicures for her character, and the intricate nails proved to be impractical on set. “It literally didn’t work,” she told Collider in 2012. “I had bridesmaids who did everything for me. I couldn’t type on my phone. I couldn’t go to the bathroom. “It took me 25 minutes to put on and take off the costume.”
Lenny Kravitzchosen as Cinnathe stylist and confidant of Katnisshad a relationship with Lawrence before filming, thanks to his daughter Zoe Kravitz. “They were doing X-Men: First Class in LondonI live in Parisso they took the train and my house was the cast’s hostel,” he told HeyUGuys in 2012. “I met Jennifer and I immediately fell in love with her. “She is very funny, she makes you laugh at all times.”
The song “Safe & Sound”, performed by Taylor Swift with Civil Warswon Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 55th Annual Awards Grammy awards in 2013.
The movie The Hunger Games set box office records upon its release in March 2012, grossing $67.3 million on its first day and $152 million during its opening weekend. It became the third highest-grossing film of the year.
Gary Ross He retired from the franchise after directing the first film, being replaced by Francis Lawrence for the next three films.
Ross explained to Variety in March 2022 that his decision not to continue with the franchise was due to the inability to handle two jobs simultaneously under the pressure of tight production times. “I wrote and I directed, and there wasn’t time to do both well in the three and a half months between films,” he noted.
