While production is just getting underway with the big-screen version of The Hunger Games, Lionsgate is so confident the movie will be a hit they’ve decided to adapt the trilogy of novels into four feature films.
“The property is generating tremendous buzz and excitement, and it all points to a major Lionsgate franchise in the making,” CEO Jon Feltheimer said during an analysts’ call Wednesday.
Joe Drake, Lionsgate’s motion picture group president, said the title was the studio’s highest-selling film when it was offered for international sales at the recent Cannes Film Market.
He added that while the Hunger Games books have sold mostly in North America, they are starting to penetrate the international market, raising the movies’ box office potential overseas.
“We have distributors who consider this as their big brand next year, the movie that can change their company,” Drake said.
Although the film has attracted a high-profile cast — which includes hot new talents like Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Elizabeth Banks as well as established names like Donald Sutherland and Woody Harrelson — Lionsgate said it held the line on the back-end payouts it offered to bring them on board.
“Our business affairs did an extraordinary job. Although everyone is being treated fairly, we do retain the upside in all of the pictures,” Drake said.
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