Technology Stuff: 'Hunger Games': What Will A Second Trailer Look Like?

Sunday, November 20, 2011

'Hunger Games': What Will A Second Trailer Look Like?

In this week's Hobnobbing, we contemplate a follow-up sneak peek at Gary Ross' dystopian drama.
By Amy Wilkinson

Josh Hutcherson in "The Hunger Games"
Photo: Lionsgate

Unless you've been hidden deep in the bowels of a clandestine cave, you've likely heard that the first full-length trailer for 2012's "The Hunger Games" debuted Monday on "Good Morning America." And unless you're missing a soul, you probably got just as many goose bumps as I did following the two-and-a-half-minute clip.

To be sure, the sneak peek did everything I wanted it to do and nothing I didn't want it to do. We witnessed Katniss' brave declaration that she'd take Prim's place in the Games. We got our first taste of Josh Hutcherson's District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark, and our pulses raced as the tributes rushed the Cornucopia. Conversely, Katniss' Girl on Fire costume is still (mostly) a mystery, and we didn't witness any character deaths or spy the muttations in all their gory glory. In short, the trailer revealed just enough.

Which leaves a dilemma: What in President Snow's name will be in the second trailer? I'm not the only one a bit perplexed.

"There's so much good stuff in that trailer that I don't feel like I need anything else," Amanda Belcher from The Hob told me recently as we chatted about Monday's first look.

"I think too many times they give you too much and you feel like you've seen the entire film before it comes out. We're happy with less," agreed fellow Hob-er Megan Scott.

Let's be clear about one thing: There's basically a 99.99 percent chance there will be a second trailer. There's always a second trailer. And Lionsgate wants as much buzz for its fledgling franchise as possible before it swoops into theaters March 23. So now what?

I certainly wouldn't want a simple re-edit of the first trailer; that would be a letdown. But I'm not exactly sure, either, what new through-line a trailer would follow. That being said, there are definitely moments we haven't seen yet that wouldn't be too spoilery. Perhaps we could catch Peeta working in his father's bakery? Or more of Katniss at home with her mom and sister Prim? Or as far as the Games are concerned, we could spy a few fleeting moments of Katniss and Peeta in the cave without revealing too much. I also wouldn't mind a longer look at their fellow tributes.

While it looks like there are indeed a few possibilities for additional trailer scenes, I hope the second look keeps the same motto as the first: Less is more.

What do you think should be included in the second trailer? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me at @amymwilk with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns!

Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."

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