New ‘Hunger Games’ Character Posters Continue The Film’s Viral Marketing Campaign

You can call the marketing for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 many things, but traditional isn’t one of them. If you’ll recall, we reported on the first series of posters for the film, which included Vogue-esque photos of Panem citizens modeled in attire representative of their respective district. We were then treated to two teasers in the form of Panem Propaganda from Hunger Games villain President Snow (Donald Sutherland) — both of which were lacking the film series lead, Jennifer Lawrence. Finally, in what was our first dose of normalcy, we were shown a traditional teaser of the upcoming Hunger Games movie, with Jennifer Lawrence present and accounted for. With these new posters (via Entertainment Weekly), however, we go back to the marketing’s more creative, less standard methods. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 will introduce the audience to the cold and bleak world of District 13 — the only district that had managed to shake free of the oppressive Capitol. As we can tell in these one-sheets, however, this freedom came with a price. Gone is the flamboyance of the Capitol, or the oppression of Districts 1-12. In its place is a cold, calculated dreariness in the form of District 13.

In these posters, we see a cast of familiar Hunger Games characters — Finnick (Sam Claflin), Beetee (Jeffrey Wright), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), Effie (Elizabeth Banks), Plutarch (Philip Seymour Hoffman) — and an unfamiliar one — President Coin (Julianne Moore), who is the president of District 13 and leader of the rebellion against the Capitol. All posters show these characters standing at the bottom right of the frame against the backdrop of a cement wall, dressed in boring, gray garb that practically blends into the wall around them. The negative space in these Hunger Games posters is oppressive, devoid of anything, including the title of the film. The only real exception is in Coin’s one-sheet, which has the Mockingjay symbol stenciled onto the wall behind her. Add another notch in The Hunger Games’ belt for cool marketing strategies. With a film poised to take in so much money, it’s nice to see they’re willing to be confident in having several posters with little indication of what it’s for. Also of note is Philip Seymour Hoffman’s first foray onto Hunger Games promo material as Plutarch Heavensbee, a role that will be his last, following his death earlier this year. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 is set to release later this year on November 21, 2015. Are these posters getting you pumped up? Let us know below!