Hunger Games: Catching Fire
We don't yet have a release date beyond just "2013," but fans are already clamoring for part two of the Hunger Games Trilogy, Catching Fire.

Following the immense success of The Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Liam Hemsworth (Gale), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta), Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinkett), and Woody Harrelson (Haymitch) have all signed on for the sequel. Recently, Philip Seymour Hoffman has been confirmed to join the cast as Plutarch Heavensbee, the newest Gamemaker. Rumor has it Mia Wasikowska may be signing on for the role of Joanna Mason.

Hunger Games: Peeta and Gale revealed!

It's been months since the casting was announced. In May, we got a glimpse of Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) in full costume. Now the new Entertainment Weekly has revealed the men of Hunger Games, Peeta and Gale.

Some fans had expressed concern that neither Josh Hutcherson (Peeta, right) nor Liam Hemsworth (Gale, left) could pull off their role, at least visually. What's the verdict now? Are you convinced?

Updates in Book into Movie News

Check out our Book into Movie News for updates, including a new Stephen King miniseries, a new musical from Anthony Burgess, and Fat Kid Rules the World.

Hunger Games Poster revealed!

Casting is complete, filming is underway, and the first official poster for the highly anticipated Hunger Games film has been released! Click here to see the moving version of the poster--great computer effects!

And the official poster...

Thoughts? Anyone else counting down to the Games?

Book World Updates

Lots of news in the book world this week...

*Check out our Book into Movie News for the latest on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, Sarah's Key, Invention of Hugo Cabret, The Paperboy, and Moby-Dick

*Fans waited for years and George R.R. Martin's A Dance with Dragons has finally released. The release was so huge that it now holds the record for Highest First Day Sales of a Fiction novel this year. In the first day of its release, Martin's book sold 298,000 titles. This includes 170,000 hardcover books, 110,000 e-books, and 18,000 audio books.

*Yet another beloved series is coming to an end. Charlaine Harris has announced that the yet-untitled Book 13 of her Southern Vampire (a.k.a. Sookie Stackhouse) series will be the last. Harris made the announcement and said, "I think it'll be total closure. I don't go back to things once I've finished with them." Dead Reckoning, the 11th book of the series, released earlier this year. Harris is still working on Book 12. The popular television series True Blood, based on the series, has just started a new season.

Update in Book into Film News

Check out the Book into Film page for an update on the newest Nicholas Sparks novel set to hit theaters.

Books into Film

Quick update: Check out our Books into Film page for an update on the casting of the film Mortal Instruments, based on the book by Cassandra Clare.

Updates on Books into Movies

Check out our Books into Movies page for release dates for Peter Jackson's Hobbit films.

Also, just announced this morning, Golden Globe winner Donald Sutherland will be playing President Snow in the film The Hunger Games.

Avox Girl revealed!

Lionsgate has announced another bit of casting news: the unnamed but unforgettable role of the Avox girl will be played by Amber Cheney.

Though relatively unknown, Chaney has appeared in Meet the Browns and Somebodies.

Mr. Popper's Penguins Trailer

Check out this family comedy coming out June 17, based on the children's classic Mr. Popper's Penguins.

New Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer

A new trailer has been released for the highly-anticipated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

Cinna is Cast! And the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize is Awarded

Fans can finally put a face to the role of Cinna. One of the most pivotal roles in the series, and most anticipated in the film, has been cast. Lenny Kravitz has joined the cast as Katniss's beloved stylist. The news was announced last night and has been met with mixed reactions from the fans. What do you think?

Also recently announced, this year's Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction has been awarded to Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart. This is the first time that an American has won the traditionally British Award.

Film Adaptation News, James and the Giant Peach Anniversary

It seems many of our favorite books are quickly being adapted to TV and film. To keep you up-to-date on all the latest, we've added a new blog page titled Book Into Movie News. Check it out for the most current updates on all your favorite upcoming adaptations. Major news (will they ever cast Cinna in The Hunger Games?!) will still be posted on the main page of this blog as well.

In other news, Roald Dahl's classic James and the Giant Peach will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! In honor of the celebration, Puffin Books has launched Follow that Peach!, a website that allows fans to send Peach-grams either virtually or through snail mail. The goal is for each peach to reach 50 people, one for each year of the book. Currently there are 310 Peaches which have reached 364 people.

First Look at Katniss, plus possible casting of Portia and Octavia

Entertainment Weekly's new cover reveals a first look at Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, possibly putting to rest some fan concerns that Lawrence didn't fit the "look" of Katniss. What do you think?

In the newest possible casting (though this is unconfirmed), Portia and Octavia may have been cast. Rumor has it Peeta's stylist, Portia, will be played by Latarsha Rose. Octavia, a member of Katniss's prep team in the Capital, may be played by Brooke Bundy.

Great Gatsby Casting News

Another role has been cast for Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Joel Edgerton will be playing the role of Tom Buchanan. Deadline.com reports that the role was originally supposed to be played by Ben Affleck, who had to back out due to scheduling conflicts. Below is the confirmed cast for the Warner Bros. film:
Jay Gatsby: Leonardo DiCaprio
Nick Carraway: Tobey Maguire
Daisy Buchanan: Carey Mulligan
Myrtle: Ilsa Fisher
Jordan Baker: Elizabeth Debicki
Tom Buchanan: Joel Edgerton

The film, due out some time next year, will be released in 3D.

Adventures of Tintin Preview

A trailer was released yesterday for the upcoming Spielberg film Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn. Based on the work of Herge. The 3D film, produced by Peter Jackson, releases in theaters December 23.

Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea; Cloud Atlas; Heaven is For Real

Quick recap of the newest in book adaptations:

*NBC has released a sneak peek look at the new sitcom, Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. Based loosely on the life of comedian Chelsea Handler (who authored a book of the same title), the sitcom follows waitress Chelsea Hanson, played by Laura Prepon (That 70's Show). Chelsea Handler is on the show as well, playing Chelsea Hanson's sister, Sloane.

*Jim Broadbent and Susan Sarandon will be joining the cast of the film Cloud Atlas, based on the book by David Mitchell. Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, and Ben Whishaw have already signed on for the film, which is being directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski. Filming starts in September.

*Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent's bestselling book Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back is now on track to be adapted to film. Sony Pictures recently bought the screen rights. T.D. Jakes and Joe Roth (Alice in Wonderland) are set to produce. Roth has been quoted as saying the book reminded him of The Sixth Sense and could have appeal beyond the religious market. The book, based on Burpo's son, has already sold 4.5 million copies.

Hunger Games casting, Book into Film News

Lots to talk about today with film adaptations of several books.

*Jess Walter has adapted his bestselling book The Financial Lives of the Poets into a screenplay for a film. The film, currently titled Bailout, will be directed by Michael Winterbottom and Jack Black is set to star. Filming will begin this August.

*The 2011 Cannes Film Festival will feature several films based on movies, many of them featuring major Hollywood actors. Among the highlights:
-The Killer Elite (based on the novel by Ranulph Fiennes), starring Jason Statham and Robert DeNiro
-Drive (based on the novel by James Sallis), starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan
-The Skin I Live In (based on the novel by Thierry Jonquet), starring Antonio Banderas
-We Need to Talk About Kevin (based on the novel by Lionel Shriver), starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly

*Hunger Games news: Cato and Clove have been cast! The District 2 tributes will be played by Alexander Ludwig and Isabelle Fuhrman, respectively. With this news, all 24 tributes of the Hunger Games have been cast. The final remaining role to be announced is that of beloved stylist Cinna.

Reviews coming soon...plus Woody Harrelson is Haymitch Abernathy!

This week's review is a bit late, but stay tuned in the next few days for a review of a classic that's one of my favorites. Anyone care to venture a guess?
Also coming soon, a review of the highly-anticipated Robopocalypse. This book is now responsible for me finally deciding to see Terminator, as many I've spoken with have said the plot sounds similar. Stay tuned for the review to find out if they're right.

Now, for those of you eagerly awaiting the Hunger Games film, one of the biggest supporting roles has been cast! Haymitch Abernathy, the drunken former-winner-turned-trainer, will be played by Woody Harrelson. Rumors were circulating in recent weeks that the role was being offered to John C. Reilly (whose rep immediately denied the claim). Personally, I'd never thought of Harrelson for the role (I was one of many hoping for Robert Downey, Jr.), but I think Harrelson will not only pull it off but be absolutely wonderful. What do you think of the casting choices thus far?

Stanley Tucci is Caesar Flickman

Just announced within the last hour: the newest addition to The Hunger Games cast is Stanley Tucci! The Hollywood favorite will be playing talkshow host Caesar Flickman.

Let's see who they'll cast next!