The sequel to “The Hunger Games” — which grossed nearly $700 million worldwide — promises to be on every best-dressed list in Tinsel Town!
In the hotly anticipated fantasy action thriller, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” begins as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) returns home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games. Along with fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), she must prepare the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change their land of Panem forever.
Along with a whole new set of cinematic challenges and a new director (Francis Lawrence, best-known for Constantine and I Am Legend), “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” features a whole different look from costume designer Trish Summerville, who’s worked with the likes of Christina Aguilera and whose film credits include “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”
When I caught up with both Lawrences — Francis and Jennifer — at a recent red carpet event, I just had to ask about Katniss’ wedding gown, which is breathtaking, to say the least.
Staci Wilson: Are there even more outrageous fantasy costumes in the new movie?Francis Lawrence: Yeah, there’s a lot. We brought on a fantastic costume designer, Trish Somerville, who I’d worked with before in music videos. She came from a fashion and styling background so we brought her on and she did loads and loads of great stuff. I mean, there’s some really amazing dresses that Effie wears, and Trish even got some Alexander McQueen museum pieces for Katniss to wear in the chariots, and for the interviews, [not to mention] the wedding dress and the Mocking Jay dress. So to answer your question: there’s loads of fun costumes in this!
Q: How much input do you have in something like that, with the costumes?
Francis Lawrence: A lot. But it all sort of starts with me wanting to bring Trish on, so you know, I know the kind of level of taste and sophistication that she brings, and so that’s making a big decision right there. And then in the early conversations with her, talking about certain kinds of things that we both like that we thought that we could use. Someone as talented as she is, I kind of let her run with it and then just make little changes, specifically if it has to do with story.
Q: Or practicality.
Francis Lawrence: Yeah. Well, sometimes practicality. That gets tricky. The wedding dress was pretty impractical. Jen was falling a lot in it.
Jennifer Lawrence: Yeah, the wedding dress was incredible, it’s stunning and unbelievable. I’m not good with big dresses, and stairs. I didn’t know that until afterwards, I wish I would have known! [laughs]