Toronto Fans of the The Hunger Games Franchise welcomed Stars of its second instalment Sam Claflin and Jena Malone to the City this evening at Scotiabank Theatre. Fans camped-out as early as this frosty morning to gain Rush Line access to the Canadian Premiere of the Action-Fantasy based on the Series of best-selling Novels by Suzanne Collins.
Catching Fire sees The Hunger Games Victor and Victress Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) and Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) of District 12 called upon to compete once again in a fight for their lives amidst the onset of a Rebellion against the Capitol. This time around though, they must face previous Winners, an eclectic group of Characters – some of whom they choose as their Allies. Among others, we are introduced to the handsome/irresistible Finnick Odair (Claflin) and outspoken Johanna Mason (Malone).
Local and National Media Outlets came out in droves to support what surely will be a great Box Office success this Friday when it hits theatres. Claflin and Malone worked their way skillfully through the Red Carpet giving their time generously, before heading-off to introduce to the Film to Audiences who got a special opportunity to see it before everybody else tonight. Claflin chose British sophistication in a dapper gray suit and burgundy scarf. Malone opted for edgy Style, sporting a blonde Bob and a black Dora Abodi dress patterned with gold mythical creatures.
Malone really is no Stranger to lovers of Cinema. She has wowed with roles in popular Titles like Stepmom, Donnie Darko, Saved! and Into the Wild, but her joining a big-budget Blockbuster Franchise as The Hunger Games actually is something new for the 28-year-old. I ask her to describe her transformation into this perhaps her most daring and physical role to-date. She says, “For me, I’d already worked with the same Stunt Team on Sucker Punch for eight months, so I walked-in feeling like Alumni.”. “I feel it’s funny that the physical training was actually the easy part – the hardest part was getting in to her (Johanna‘s) emotional state”, Malone explains. “She was quite chaotic – it was a little bit more debilitating to withstand.”. Although she’s been in the City in previous years for the Toronto International Film Festival, she admits “It has been a while! I don’t know – it’s cold and I haven’t seen anything, but I do love Toronto!”. You also can visit from Canada Kasyna Online.
After enduring a broken finger among other minor injuries during the filming process, 27-year-old Hearththrob-on-the-rise Claflin tells me about his bonding experience with the Cast, having just signed-aboard as a Newcomer. “I think I was intimidated at first entering that World and that Family”, says the London-trained Thespian. “Everyone was really welcoming. I felt like part of the Family from day one.”.
Claflin certainly also is no Stranger to Toronto, having starred opposite Lily Collins here this past May in upcoming Rom-Com Love, Rosie. While that experience was short, he does have some fond memories. “I never got to see much of the City before as we were shooting nights in bizarre places” he recalls. “I did watch a Maple Leaf Game – the first time they ever won a Playoff in ten years I think! I just got-in an hour-and-a-half ago and leave tomorrow morning.”. “It’s exhausting!”, he laughs. Surely all the hard work will pay-off soon as he’s undeniable as the charming, Sugar Cube-obsessed Finnick.
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It’s certainly still not too late to win Signed Items from Stars Lawrence and Claflin! Click here for more details.
eOne Films releases The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on Friday, November 22, 2013.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Christina Miguel)
There are few Celebrities I am as cosmically in-sync with as Lily Collins. I keep crossing paths with her, honestly not even intentionally! Remember last Summer when we first spotted her out and about with Jamie Campbell Bower (read here)?
Collins just wrapped a week of work on Rom-Com, Love, Rosie, in Toronto along with another burgeoning star in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire‘s Sam Claflin (read more here) with sightings ranging from Etobicoke to Downtown’s Roy Thomson Hall to Financial District.
Remembering me right away, she tells me “Nice seeing you again!”, sporting a slight hint of red in her locks. “Your hair! Looks great!!”, I tell her. “Aww, thanks!”, she says grabbing a few strands of it. Collins was getting ready to fly out and tells me “I think we’ll be back again for the Premiere later this Summer.”.
With a second The Mortal Instruments installment already green-lit for Production without the first even being released, Studio Executives over at Sony Pictures really are that confident in Collins‘ ability to clary – sorry, I mean carry – a Franchise on her own.
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eOne Films releases The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones in Canada August 22, 2013.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Things undisputably are on the up-and-up for Sam Claflin. The 26-year-old British Actor who made a splash in Box Office Smashes Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Snow White & The Huntsman, soon after was cast in upcoming The Hunger Games Sequel, Catching Fire, in the coveted role of Finnick Odair. Co-Star Jennifer Lawrence in fact also arrived on Canadian soil this weekend to begin work on X-Men: Days of Future Past, being spotted in Montreal Sunday night!
Claflin, arrived in Toronto over the weekend, to begin a few days only of Production on Rom-Com, Love, Rosie, opposite Rising Star Lily Collins, who practically is now a Torontonian after all the time she’s spent here this past year! The Film centers around a pair of Friends who are separated when one (Alex, played by Claflin) relocates with his Family to America and one remains in Dublin (Rosie, played by Collins). “Can Friendship and Love survive distance and separation?”, we are asked in this Adaptation of the popular Novel by Cecelia Ahern (P.S. I Love You). Toronto of course, has been cast in the role of Boston, where part of the Story is set, with the remainder of Production taking place in Dublin.
It has just been announced that Lionsgate Films will distribute The Quiet Ones, a Poltergeist-Horror which has him starring opposite a currently-in-Toronto Jared Harris, with a release date set for April 25, 2014. Meanwhile, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, also from Lionsgate Films (eOne Films in Canada), sees a November 22, 2013 release.
I spotted a redheaded Claflin, out and about earlier today arriving to work and he was awful nice to stop for a quick Snap, happy that I’m excited for Catching Fire. He even signed a Photo for you my Readers, although that will be timed for later in the year. Stay tuned to Mr. Will Wong on Facebook for more on that!
See more Photos of Collins and Claflin filming Love, Rosie in Toronto here.
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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/GQ)
Finally, some life is breathed into Toronto’s Film Industry with a few exciting updates! Sam Claflin, whose star quickly is on the rise starring in upcoming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, arrives in Toronto for a few days of shooting next month for Romantic-Comedy, Love, Rosie, based on the Novel by Ceceila Ahern. The Film centers around Best Friends Rosie and Alex who are separated after the latter’s Family relocates to America. Lily Collins, who has been in Toronto much of late for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and recent Re-shoots, also stars. Love, Rosie sees a 2014 release.
Pompeii from Paul W.S. Anderson (The Three Musketeers, Resident Evil: Retribution) just began Production and will continue to film till July in the City. Several Game of Thrones Fans around Toronto have had to do a double-take after spotting Kit Harington. The Actor has been sporting lighter-coloured locks for the Film and confirmed to some Fans recently that he has met the entire Cast which includes Jared Harris (Mad Men), Kiefer Sutherland (24) and Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) already, who are scattered in separate parts of the City. Paz Vega (Spanglish) was recently added to the Cast along with Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix).
Those of you who like me are looking forward to Sony Pictures’ Carrie Remake will be excited to know that some of the Cast will be back in Toronto early May for a couple days to do Re-shoots for the Horror. In the meantime, several of the Cast Members have gone-on to do some great things. For one, Julianne Moore of course was just cast in David Cronenberg‘s Map to the Stars, set to film in L.A. reuniting that Director with Robert Pattinson. Gabriella Wilde filmed Squatters with Thomas Dekker (just in Toronto this week). Ansel Elgort who calls Carrie his first Movie ever, was cast in what sure is to be a Hit in Divergent alongside Shailene Woodley. Of course, its Star, Chloë Moretz filmed Kick-Ass 2 here in Toronto last Fall right after Carrie.
The Big Bang Theory Star Kunal Nayyar also just arrived in the City to film Dr. Cabbie’s Meter’s Running starring Vinay Virmani (Breakaway) and Adrianne Palicki (G.I. JOE). The Cast have been in and around the City and last week were spotted in-and-around Bay x Wellesley filming and are expected here till late May.
In another bit of casting news, British Actor Max Beesley (Glitter, Hotel Babylon) has just been cast in USA Network‘s Hit Legal Series Suits and is expected to arrive in the City shortly to begin filming. Filming continues throughout the Summer into October.
(Photo credit: Lionsgate Films)
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