Official synopsis:

In this high-stakes thriller, Adam Cassidy (Liam Hemsworth) is a regular guy trying to get ahead in his entry-level job at Wyatt Corporation. But after one costly mistake, Adam’s ruthless CEO, Nicholas Wyatt (Gary Oldman), forces himto spy on corporate rival, Jock Goddard (Harrison Ford), Wyatt’s old mentor.  Adam soon finds himself occupying the corner office and living the life of his dreams.  However, behind the scenes, he is simply a pawn in Wyatt’s corporate game and realizes he must ultimately find a way out from under his boss who will stop at nothing, even murder, to win a multi-billion dollar advantage.

This picture isn’t a bad way to kick off the weekend!

He also talked briefly about what it’s like working with Jennifer Lawrence and told the story of meeting her for the first time.

Update: YouTube video added for international readers.

Today Lionsgate sent out a press release about their Cannes sales, which includes our first look at a brief synopsis for Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2.

In MOCKINGJAY PARTS 1 & 2, we follow heroine Katniss Everdeen’s journey as she leads the districts of Panem in a rebellion against the tyrannical and corrupt Capitol. As the war that will determine the fate of Panem escalates, Katniss must decipher for herself who she can trust and what needs to be done, with everything she cares for in the balance.

The press release notes that Lionsgate’s Cannes sales total topped last year’s mark by more than 50% – totalling more than $250 million in territorial rights to nine titles – thanks in part to its Mockingjay sales.

The press release also mentions that Lionsgate showed a sneak preview from Divergent, but no mention of footage from Catching Fire (which likely means the rumors that footage would be shown were untrue).

What do you think of the synopsis for Mockingjay Parts 1 and Parts 2?

You can see the full press release after the jump. 

LIONSGATE ACHIEVES RECORD SALES AT 2013 CANNES MARKET WITH SLATE OF NINE FILMS LED BY MOCKINGJAY 1 & 2, STEP UP 5 AND THE LAST WITCH HUNTER

Studio Generates More Than $250 Million In Sales For Its Cannes Slate, Topping Last Year’s Company Record By More Than 50%

CANNES, France, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) continued to dazzle its International distribution partners with its lineup of films for the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, achieving a Company record of more than $250 million in sales for nine titles that included MOCKINGJAY 1 and 2, the third and fourth installments of the global blockbuster HUNGER GAMES franchise, STEP UP 5 and upcoming Lionsgate and Summit titles such as DRAFT DAY, THE LAST WITCH HUNTER and Lionsgate UK’s A LITTLE CHAOS.

The record total surpassed last year’s mark by more than 50% and doesn’t include the expected revenue from territories where Lionsgate distributes directly, such as the UK, or through distribution partnerships such as its 50/50 joint venture with IDC inLatin America and its partnership with Universal Pictures in India.

“Our strong performance at Cannes this year is attributable in part to the international framework we’ve set in place combining output deals around the world with self-distribution in key territories such as the UK and Latin America,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chair Patrick Wachsberger .  “This infrastructure gives us enormous flexibility and is already delivering remarkable results.”

Wachsberger also noted that Lionsgate fielded one of its strongest slates ever at Cannes, and the Company built anticipation among its distributors by showing them elements of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE campaign and a sneak preview of footage from one of its upcoming young adult franchises, Summit Entertainment’s DIVERGENT.  Distributor enthusiasm was fueled by the presence in Cannes of CATCHING FIRE stars Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth and director Francis Lawrence , who met international press and attended a gala party for the film’s distributors.

The titles on this year’s slate included the third and fourth installments of THE HUNGER GAMES franchise, THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PARTS 1 & 2, Summit Entertainment’s DRAFT DAY; Roman Polanski ’s VENUS IN FUR (R.P. Productions, Monolith Films) which is in competition for this year’s Palme d’Or ; JOHN WICK (Thunder Road); THE LAST WITCH HUNTER (Mark Canton Production, One Race Entertainment, Emmett/Furla); A LITTLE CHAOS (Potboiler Productions, The Bureau); REAWAKENING (Blumhouse Productions, Mosaic); and the latest installment in Summit’s global dance franchise, STEP UP 5.

Wachsberger led a team that included Wendy Reeds , Executive Vice President of Content Sales and Distribution at Celestial Tiger Entertainment, and Crystal Bourbeau , Senior Vice President of International Sales at Lionsgate as well as recently named Lionsgate International Chief Operating Officer Andrew Kramer .

Details include:

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PARTS 1 & 2 (ColorForce, Lionsgate)
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence , Josh Hutcherson , Liam Hemsworth , Woody Harrelson , Elizabeth Banks , Philip Seymour Hoffman ,Jeffrey Wright , Stanley Tucci , Donald Sutherland
Director: Francis Lawrence
Writer: Danny Strong
Producers: Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik
Logline: In MOCKINGJAY PARTS 1 & 2, we follow heroine Katniss Everdeen’s journey as she leads the districts of Panem in a rebellion against the tyrannical and corrupt Capitol. As the war that will determine the fate of Panem escalates, Katniss must decipher for herself who she can trust and what needs to be done, with everything she cares for in the balance.

Notable non-output partner sales include:

• Volga – CIS/Baltics
• Impuls – Switzerland
• Forum – Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Ex-Yugo, Bulgaria, Israel
• Eagle – Middle East
• Fida – Turkey
• Long Shong – Taiwan
• Lark - Hong Kong
• Universal – India, Italy

DRAFT DAY (Montecito Picture Company, OddLot Entertainment, Summit)
Cast: Kevin Costner , Jennifer Garner , Denis Leary , Ellen Burstyn , Sean Combs , Terry Crews , Chi McBride , Frank Langella , and Chadwick Boseman
Director: Ivan Reitman
Producers: Ivan Reitman , Joe Medjuck , Ali Bell , and Gigi Pritzker
Logline: On the day of the NFL Draft, general manager Sonny Weaver (Costner) has the opportunity to save football inCleveland when he trades for the number one pick. He must quickly decide what he’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of perfection as the lines between his personal and professional life become blurred on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with dreams of playing in the NFL.

Territory sales include:

• Metropolitan – France
• Belga – Benelux
• Impuls – Switzerland
• Acme – Baltics
• Monolith – Poland
• Eagle – Middle East
• IDC – Latin America
• Golden Harvest – Taiwan, Hong Kong

VENUS IN FUR (R.P. Productions, Monolith Films)
Cast: Emmanuelle Seigner and Louis Garrel
Director: Roman Polanski
Writers: Roman Polanski and David Ives
Producer: Basil Iwanyk
Logline: A director becomes enslaved by desire after reluctantly agreeing to audition one last actress for the lead role of his play. The film is an adaptation of David Ives ’s play Venus in Fur, a Broadway and off-Broadway success, that received a Tony® nomination for Best Play and garnered a Tony for Nina Arianda as Best Actress.

Territory sales include:

• Ascot Elite – Switzerland
• Rai – Italy
• e1 – Benelux
• Pris – Portugal
• West – CIS
• Acme – Baltics
• Eagle- Middle East
• Gussi – Latin America
• Showgate – Japan
• Long Shong – Taiwan
• Delta Mac – Hong Kong

JOHN WICK (Thunder Road)
Cast: Keanu Reeves
Directors: David Leitch and Chad Stahelski
Writer: Derek Kolstad
Producer: Basil Iwanyk
Logline: From the producer of CLASH OF THE TITANS and THE TOWN comes a tale of adrenaline-fueled revenge and redemption. When a retired hit man is forced back into action by a sadistic young thug, he hunts down his adversaries with the skill and ruthlessness that made him an underworld legend.

Territory sales include:

• Studio Canal – Germany
• Metropolitan – France
• MK2 – Italy
• A-Film – Benelux
• West – CIS
• Acme – Baltics
• Monolith – Poland
• Media Pro – Czech, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria
• Imagem – Latin America
• Golden Harvest – Taiwan, Hong Kong

THE LAST WITCH HUNTER (Mark Canton Production, One Race Entertainment, Emmett/Furla)
Cast: Vin Diesel
Director: Breck Eisner
Writer: Cory Goodman
Producers: Mark Canton , Bernie Goldman , and Vin Diesel
Logline: In THE LAST WITCH HUNTER, an immortal witch hunter (Diesel) partners with his natural enemy, a female witch, to stop the covens of NYC from unleashing a plague on humanity.

Territory sales include:

• e1 – Canada, UK, Australia
• Studio Canal – Germany
• Ascot Elite – Switzerland
• SND – France
• Aurum (e1) - Spain
• Nordisk – Scandinavia
• Belga – Benelux
• Central Partnership – CIS
• Monolith – Poland
• Jaguar – Middle East
• IDC – Latin America

A LITTLE CHAOS (Potboiler Productions, The Bureau)
Cast: Kate Winslet , Matthias Schoenaerts, and Alan Rickman
Director: Alan Rickman
Writers: Alison Deegan , Alan Rickman , and Jeremy Brock
Producers: Gail Egan , Andreaa Calderwood , and Bertrand Faivre
Logline: A passionate love affair challenges a beautiful landscape gardener both personally and professionally as she navigates the sexual and political intrigues of the Versailles court.

Territory sales include:

• Tobis – Germany/Switzerland
• Metropolitan – France
• Eagle Pictures – Italy
• Volga – CIS
• Monolith – Poland
• Jaguar – Middle East
• Kadokawa – Japan

REAWAKENING (Blumhouse Productions, Mosaic)
Cast: Olivia Wilde and Mark Duplass
Director: David Gelb
Writer: Luke Dawson and Jeremy Slater
Producers: Blumhouse’s Jason Blum and Mosaic Media Group
Logline: In REAWAKENING, a team of research students discovers the secret to bringing subjects back from the dead however their actions result in a series of sinister consequences.

Territory sales include:

• Lionsgate UK – UK
• Wild Bunch – Germany
• Impuls – Switzerland
• Metropolitan – France
• Belga – Benelux
• West – CIS
• Monolith – Poland
• Eagle – Middle East
• Fida – Turkey
• IDC – Latin America
• Golden Harvest – Taiwan, Hong Kong

STEP UP 5
Director: Trish Sie
Writer: John Swetnam
Logline: Fifth installment of Summit Entertainment’s successful STEP UP franchise.

Territory sales include:

• Constantin – Germany

• MK2 – Italy

• Nordisk – Scandinavia

• Belga – Benelux

• Central Partnership – CIS

• Monolith – Poland

• Jaguar – Middle East

• Niners Entertainment – Korea

• Universal – UK, Australia, Switzerland, France, Latin America

I realized over the past weekend that it’s been two years since I first read (and fell in love) with the series, so I sat down and chose a quote from The Hunger Games. I remember how absorbed I was in the story when I came across the scene where the remaining tributes are invited to a feast to get their hands on an item that they are all in need of.

Peeta is down and out at this point – he’s got blood poisoning and Katniss knows that if she can’t make it to the feast, Peeta will die. She’s done everything she can at this point to help him and treat his wound, but knows that the blood poisoning will kill him if she’s unable to get to what she needs to cure him. Peeta may be sick, but he understands the risks involved of Katniss leaving him to go to the feast.

He knows how dangerous the other tributes are (look at the wound Cato gave him) and is determined to go with her despite his current condition. Katniss knows that it isn’t an option; he just doesn’t have the strength to go after her. They go back and forth on the matter until Peeta tells her that he will follow and will yell out her name so someone (or something) can find him and kill him.

Katniss is frustrated; it’s easy to see when she goes on to share her thoughts with us on Peeta’s determination:

“He’s just stubborn enough and maybe just strong enough to do it. Come howling after me in the woods. Even if a tribute doesn’t find him, something else might.”

Peeta is stubborn, and it isn’t a side I thought I would see from him. I’m used to Katniss being stubborn, and doing things her own way. They both are aware that he isn’t in the best condition to even drag himself along after her – but he’s being incredibly stubborn, and I’m sure given the chance – he’d drag himself after her, calling out her name.

I wouldn’t want to stay in the cave alone – no matter how beat up and sick I was. I don’t blame Peeta for telling Katniss he’d follow after her; I would have, too. He may be sick and wounded, but I know that he also wants to stay close to her to protect her (even if he has little to no energy to actually do anything). He wants to be with her, to look after her – and if he can’t do that – he’s determined to do whatever he can to follow her.

If you were Katniss, what would you think about Peeta’s stubborn streak? How would you feel about his determination to follow you as far as he possibly could to the feast? If you were Peeta – would you be willing to follow Katniss despite being wounded and having blood poisoning? How do you think Peeta felt at the thought of being left alone in the cave being so ill? If you were someone watching this play out in Panem, what would you think of the two lovebirds and their current situation?

I can’t wait to see what you have to say about this quote, I love reading all the great discussions each week!

Choice Male Hottie

• Justin Bieber
• Liam Hemsworth
• Taylor Lautner
• Harry Styles
• Channing Tatum

Liam lost last year to Ian Somerhalder, so could be good news that Ian isn’t among his competition this year.

Keep in mind that since The Hunger Games was released in March 2012, it didn’t receive any nominations this year, though it was nominated (and won!) a ton of awards at the 2012 ceremony.

The TCA’s will announce the host(s), performers, presenters and additional nominees soon. Last year the second wave of nominees was announced about a month after the first wave.

Starting today, fans ages 13-19 can vote once each day per category for their favorite nominees at www.teenchoiceawards.com.

The awards ceremony will air live Sunday, August 11th from 8:00-10:00 PM ET on FOX. Even though The Hunger Games isn’t nominated, we’re hoping that the cast (in addition to Liam) will show up to help promote Catching Fire!

Woody was also a guest on “The View” yesterday and showed off his magic skills with the hosts.

In the second video, Woody talks about his wife, filming “True Detectives” with Matthew McConaughey, and having fun with the character of Haymitch in The Hunger Games.


Bree Herzog is producing for Atomic Owl along with JetLag’s Hutcherson, Michelle Fightmaster and Ric Beddingfield. ICM Partners will handle worldwide rights.

“Ape” is a dramatic tale of a young man’s struggle with mental illness, love and a deep-rooted family secret.

“We strongly believe in the global appeal of this project and we’re excited to work with Bree Herzog and team” said Hutcherson.  “‘Ape’ is a passion project for us and to see it get made would truly be a dream come true.”

You can read more about the film and what producer Bree Herzog says about Josh at The Wrap.

On The Hunger Games’ success

“It’s been a great experience. Things are obviously different for me than they were a year ago, two years ago or five years ago. I’m still doing my thing, being myself. I’m just grateful for the attention, for all the people that come out and see the movies.”

On signing on to Epic

“He [director Chris Wedge] described this world he’d dreamed up, and I fell for it. It reminded me of being a kid and being in my own backyard, playing and using my imagination. It was a chance to relive that experience a little bit. That was a magical time for me, and made me nostalgic.”

On his future plans

“I’ve never been a goal-oriented person. I’ve never said, ‘I want to do this many movies, or this sort of movie, or make it on this many magazine covers’ … Having some acting success in a series like ‘Hunger Games’ frees me to try my hand at some riskier projects — indie films, unusual roles, and hopefully a shot at directing, here and there. If I’m lucky. And believe me, I have been.”

You can read the full article at Knoxville.com.

• Jennifer Lawrence graces the cover of France’s Gala magazine’s Cannes issue. (@TheHungerGames)
• People.com’s StyleWatch breaks down the four fabulous Dior outfits Jennifer Lawrence wore at Cannes. (People.com)
• Photos: Before Saturday’s Catching Fire excitement at Cannes, Liam Hemsworth enjoyed the film festival by attending the Belvedere Party on Friday. (JustJared)
• According to an inside source at the Catching Fire party at Cannes, Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth had a run in with a platter of candles on top of an 8-foot column (they’re OK!). (JustJared)
• Photos: Check out pics of Alan Ritchson (Gloss) in his motion capture suit on the set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (ComicBookMovie.com)
• Filming for Sam Claflin’s Love, Rosie moved from Toronto to Ireland this week. (JustJared)
• The Nebula Award winners were announced, and unfortunately Beasts of the Southern Wild beat The Hunger Games for the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation.(Tor.com)