You had to get in excellent physical shape for “The Hunger Games.” How long did you train, and what did you do?
I had about two months to prepare for the fight sequences and physically train. I did lots of spinning, probably an hour and a half a day. I also did boot-camp-style exercises — rolling kettle bells and balls that weighed 30 pounds across the room, using ropes, and rolling tires around, military style.
Every other day, on the days that we weren’t training, I would go hiking or running around Los Angeles, by myself or with my friends. I also did some sprinting — I was pushing myself. Dieting was also a big part of it, so no dairy and no carbohydrates whatsoever.

How did you learn the specific fighting skills, like sword fighting and archery?
I trained different muscles of my body, like my shoulder muscles and back muscles, for long periods of time. I had to thrash the weapons around like I knew what I was doing, and it was pretty difficult to get my muscles to memorize and acclimate to the different maneuvers. It hurt in places I never knew I had.
I trained in fight choreography and on camera with swords and weapons for about two hours a day, tossing them around like I was a skilled fighter. I was doing that whenever I was not doing the other training, whenever I could.
Before filming, you worked out in a studio in Los Angeles, but you shot the movie in the wilderness of North Carolina. Was it harder to do some of the moves outside?
It was different to be on grass and not to be comforted by padding. During filming, we also didn’t have padding under our outfits, which were pretty flimsy, so it was a little bit difficult getting used to that. It was also really hot out there, and it would rain and stuff, so we had to deal with the elements. But it was more natural and organic.

“Francis Lawrence is extremely talented,” he said. “I’ve heard he’s the nicest guy in the world. I’m really excited to see what he’s going to do with it.”

Hej! Jag älskar Hunger Games så ända sedan premiären så har jag ritat av alla tre engelska bokomslagen. Det hade varit en ära om ni hade lagt upp detta på bloggen för att jag har lagt ner mycket tid och jobb på målningarna och blev mycket nöjd!

Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire. As a writer and a director, I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule.

I loved making The Hunger Games – it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results. And contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic. They have also been very understanding of me through this difficult decision.

I also cannot say enough about the people I worked with: Producer Nina Jacobson, a great collaborator and a true friend; the brilliant Suzanne Collins, who entrusted us with her most amazing and important story; the gifted and remarkable Jennifer Lawrence whose performance exceeded my wildest expectations, and the rest of the incredible cast, whom I am proud to call my friends.
To the fans I want to say thank you for your support your faith, your enthusiasm and your trust. Hard as this may be to understand I am trying to keep that trust with you. Thank you all. It’s been a wonderful experience.

We’re very sorry that Gary Ross has chosen not to direct Catching Fire. We were really looking forward to making the movie with him. He did an incredible job on the first film and we are grateful for his work. This will not be the end of our relationship, as we consider Ross to be part of the Lionsgate family and look forward to working with him in the future.

Just hours after appearing at the TCA to represent the box-office hit “The Hunger Games,” it’s been reported that Josh Hutcherson will not be reprising his role as baker-turned-tribute Peeta Mellark in 2013’s “Catching Fire” due to scheduling conflicts with “Zathura 2,” another sequel he’s signed on for.

“This is an unfortunate situation,” Hutcheron’s reps stated this morning. “Josh did the first Zathura film when he was 12 and that’s when signed on for possible sequels. It’s been almost eight years and we all pretty much thought that project was shelved.”

Read the rest of the article here.