MONDAY – September 3 – sees the release of the phenomenally successful film, The Hunger Games, on two-disc DVD, two-disc Blu-Ray, TVOD and digital download formats.
In tribute to the science fiction blockbuster, 12 HMV stores around the UK and Ireland have been selected to act as special regional ‘districts’ on Sunday, September 2 – the day before release.
Fans of The Hunger Games who visit one of the 12 participating stores on Sunday 2nd between 2pm and 3pm can check into the applicable HMV store’s Foursquare account.
They will then be automatically entered into a regional ‘Reaping’ whereby two names or ‘Tributes’ from each ‘district’ will be put forward for a very special Reaping taking place in ‘The Capitol’ the same day – at HMV’s Oxford Street store.
In the Oxford Street store, a ‘Capitol Representative’ will conduct a live Reaping after 3pm. They will select names from two fish bowls, just like in the film. The first name will be taken from a bowl holding the names of the 24 regional district winners.
The second name will be taken from a bowl holding all the names of attendees at Oxford Street branch. These two lucky Tributes will each win a pair or tickets to UK premiere of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – the next instalment of the series.
Although only a select few can be chosen as Tributes to battle for the ultimate prize, 100 lucky attendees at each store will have the opportunity to purchase the HMV exclusive three-disc double play steelbook a full day ahead of the national release. In addition, the 24 regional tributes will each receive a The Hunger Games goody bag.
Participating HMV ‘District’ stores:
1. hmv Glasgow, 235 Buchanan Street
2. hmv Edinburgh, 29 Princes Street
3. hmv Newcastle, 59 Northumberland Street
4. hmv Manchester, Trafford Centre
5. hmv Birmingham, Bullring Centre
6. hmv Leicester, 9/17 High Street
7. hmv Norwich, 21 Gentlemans Walk
8. hmv Cardiff, 53/57 Queen Street
9. hmv Bristol, 24/26 Broadmead
10. hmv Southampton, 56/58 Above Bar Street
11. hmv Belfast, 3/6Donegall Arcade
12. hmv Dublin, 65 Grafton Street
(13) Capitol City reaping: hmv 150 Oxford Street
ENDS
Enquiries
Gennaro Castaldo, HMV Press & PR
gennaro.castaldo@hmv.co.uk / 020 7432 2033 / 07801 194 139
Liam McMahon, Press on PR
liam@pressonpr.com / 07734 739 794
Notes to Editors
Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games juggernaut will arrive on home entertainment platforms on Monday September 3, as the first film in Lionsgate’s (NYSE: LGF) The Hunger Games franchise. The film has already grossed nearly £24m at the UK box office and is approaching $650 million worldwide and will debut on two-disc DVD, two-disc Blu-Ray, TVOD and digital download.
This is the biggest home entertainment launch in Lionsgate UK’s history, the company announced in June.
The film, based on the New York Times best-selling novel from writer, Suzanne Collins, achieved a remarkable four-week run as the #1 film at the North American theatrical box office where it has already grossed $400 million, ranking as the 14th highest-grossing film of all time, and it is approaching $650 million at the worldwide box office with a June release in China.
The two-disc Blu-ray and 2-disc DVD arrive loaded with almost three hours of extensive bonus materials including the comprehensive eight-part documentary, ‘The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games’.
Other special features include a sit-down conversation with director, Gary Ross, as well as numerous featurettes that examine the global success of the books, the creation of the control room in the film and the filmmakers’ motivation behind creating new scenes that were not in the book, plus much more.
The Blu-ray Disc set contains an additional exclusive feature, ‘Preparing for the Games: A Director’s Process’, which looks at the progression of taking three key scenes from the book to the screen.
The Hunger Games is a must-have film that is hailed as “an essential science-fiction film for our times” – Robbie Collin – Daily Telegraph.
“We are incredibly excited to bring The Hunger Games experience to UK homes on 3rd September,” said Nicola Pearcey, managing director, Home Entertainment and New Media.
“This is by far the biggest home entertainment launch in Lionsgate UK’s history and further to the success of the theatrical box office, our home entertainment launch involves a highly innovative and integrated digital and packaged media rollout.
“The release culminates in a UK-wide ‘shared view’ at 8pm on the 3rd September, when we encourage those who have purchased The Hunger Games to press play at 8pm, log onto www.theukwillbewatching.co.uk, and share their experience via a social dashboard, interacting with other fans whilst all watching the film simultaneously.”
Directed by Academy Award® nominee Gary Ross (Seabiscuit), The Hunger Games, starring Academy Award® nominee Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone), features an ensemble cast that includes Golden Globe® winner Donald Sutherland (Citizen X), Academy Award® nominee Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones), Academy Award® nominee Woody Harrelson (The People vs. Larry Flynt), Lenny Kravitz (Precious) and Emmy® nominee Elizabeth Banks (TV’s ’30 Rock’).
The film also stars some of the industry’s brightest up and coming actors such as Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) and Liam Hemsworth (The Expendables 2).
The Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy of books published by Scholastic that has already become a literary phenomenon with over 36.5 million copies in circulation.
Set in the future, one male and one female from each of the 12 districts of the nation is forced to participate in the annual competition called The Hunger Games, which is broadcast live throughout the country for the entertainment of the Capitol’s wealthy residents.
Sixteen year-old Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) volunteers in her younger sister’s place to enter the games, and is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor, Haymitch Abernathy, when she’s pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives.
If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
BLU-RAY & DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
* ‘The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games’ – an eight-part documentary covering the ‘making of’ the film in all aspects from the pre-production process all the way through the theatrical release and fan reactions
* ‘Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games Phenomenon’ featurette
* ‘Letters from the Rose Garden’ featurette – insights from Donald Sutherland on the development of his role as President Snow
* ‘Controlling the Games’ featurette – stories and concepts behind creating the control center
* A conversation with Gary Ross and Elvis Mitchell
* Propaganda Film (in its entirety)
* ‘Preparing for The Games: A Director’s Process’ (Blu-ray Exclusive)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Cahir McDaid / Alice Hammond cahir@dna-pr.com / alice@dna-pr.com / Tel: 01273 772 155
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2012
Title Copyright: ™ & © 2012 Lions Gate Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Cert: 12 (DVD and SD formats) and 15 (BD and HD formats)
Genre: Action/Adventure
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Audio Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (feature)
Audio Description Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Aspect ratio Anamorphic 2.40:1
Run time 137 Minutes Approx.
Languages English
Subtitles English for the Hearing Impaired
BD
Audio DTS-HD Master Audio Surround 7.1
Audio Description Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Aspect ratio HD 2.40:1
Run time 142 Minutes Approx.
Languages English
To experience The Hunger Games online, please visit launch microsite: http://www.theukwillbewatching.co.uk
Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheHungerGamesUK
Official Twitter Page: @HungerGamesUK, #TheUKWillBeWatching
MEDIA RELEASE posted by HMV. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: HMV UK Ltd
Email: gennaro.castaldo@hmv.co.uk
Website: http://www.hmv.co.uk
