Awesome interview with Gary Ross!

I have high hopes for this-Gary Ross seems to really understand the books and characters, and that's the first step towards making both a good adaptation and and great movie.

Latest Peeta casting news . . .

I really hope this is true-I've loved Hunter for Peeta for months and think he'd be awesome with Jennifer.

I know nothing about the book but

Keira Knightley and Joe Wright are re-teaming for Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Aaron Johnson has reportedly been offered the romantic lead opposite Keira.

I loved Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice and Atonement. I hated The Soloist and I'm not interested in Hanna. But I am excited for this!

I'm really excited Jennifer got cast in The Hunger Games. She's an excellent actress and will definitely do the part justice. Her performance in Winter's Bone is nothing short of phenomenal, and I hear she is very good in Like Crazy as well, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year and will get a wide release later in the fall. This is looking to be a big year for her.

I hope Hunter Parrish gets cast as the male lead. He's very talented as well, although he's mainly worked in television. He's great in Weeds, and in my opinion is a much better actor than Alex Pettyfer and Josh Hutcherson.

Joseph Gorden-Levitt has been confirmed for the Dark Knight Rises, his role is currently unknown. Juno Temple is also looking to join the cast in a supporting role as a street-smart Gotham girl.

Here is the Link:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=75398

Oh Juno Temple is a nice addition, Joseph Gordon-Levitt too of course but with him I atleast have heard rumors but it's the first I hear of her in it.

We now know what role Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be playing in The Dark Knight Rises, he is playing: Alberto Falcone, the son of Mafia chieftain Carmine Falcone."

Here is the Link:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=75406

EDIT: Now sources are reporting this is incorrect, so we still don't know who he is playing.

Deadline is reporting that The Hobbit (There and Back Again & An Unexpected Journey) finally began filming.

So glad to finally be able to say that!

Yes, it is so nice to say filming has finally started!

I'll post the same picture here, that I posted in the Tolkien Topic:

I Can't wait to see set pictures!

and here is another one that shows a side by side comparison of Peter Jackson in 2001 and now.
The picture won't fit all the way so Here is the link to the full picture:
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2011/03 ... n-and-now/

You will noticed some slight differences in Bilbo's House, considering that there is a sixty year difference between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring.

Oh wow, Peter Jackson is looking very good. And Bilbo's house looks fantastic! I'm very excited to see The Hobbit. I too can't wait to see set pictures now that I've seen this. Thanks for sharing.

So, I think I'm qualified enough to come in here and weigh in a bit on the Hunger Game casting news. I JUST finished reading the books...started them on Saturday and finished last night. A former NWebber posted a review of the series on her blog and it looked interesting, and since I've been hearing a lot about it recently I thought I'd give them a try.

I'll have to save my general thoughts on the series for the Book thread, but about the movie(s) coming up...

I like Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. I admit that it might be cheating a bit to like her because I knew she was cast to play Katniss before I read the books. I think she'll do just fine, and she is a great actress. For Peeta, I have no real favorites except that anyone but Alex Pettyfer is good. Someone threw a name around earlier in the thread; Hunter something, I think? And he looks like Peeta as I imagine him. I don't see Peeta as a really pretty boy, but someone who is sturdily built (he threw rocks around, didn't he...can't do that if you're skinny; you need a bit of girth for that).

Anyway, it will remain to be seen if these movies will end up being all stunt and flash (i.e. Twilight), or actually attempt to be a real, serious movie. I haven't seen Harry Potter but from what I gather, that franchise successfully pulled off the "hit, current book to movie" pretty well. So, we'll see...I'm skeptical of the "legitimacy" of THG movies, but hopefully they will be good and just as riveting and thought-provoking as the books.

It will be interesting to see how they translate the book to screen, since in the book we're completely in Katniss' head and we only see things from her perspective (but are often able to discern the real situation despite her natural inclination). The relationship between her and Peeta will be tricky, because it's NOT a romance...not in the real sense. She herself doesn't know what real love really is, and she never acknowledges that she loves Peeta that way until the very end of the series, although we as an audience suspect that she does love him, she just doesn't realize it. In the movie, if they try and make her relationship with Peeta more than it is in the first book, then it's going to cheapen the rest of the series because that's one of the things that's a huge part of it.

Does that make sense? Anyway, I just read these books a few days ago so those are just my initial thoughts. Anyway, I'll be following the filming process with interest...if it looks good, I'll be happy.

Here is the first Full Captain America Trailer:
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri= ... Nk3YYYZydg

I think it looks great!

Indeed, 7chronicles. It's going to be a great year for comic-to-movies films! I had serious misgivings about Captain America based on some comments made by some of the developers, but I have to say it's really looking great! Also looking forward to Thor. I love those old, classic Marvel Comics story lines and it's a blast watching them come to life.

There were trailers for both Thor and Green Lantern in front of Unknown last weekend. Thor especially brings back some childhood memories. Could be a fun movie summer.

don't forget! "Soul Surfer" is in theaters in 2 weeks!

don't forget! "Soul Surfer" is in theaters in 2 weeks!

My youth group might be seeing that It looks really good.

And . . .

Lionsgate has begun testing potential Peetas and Gales with Jennifer!