James Bond 24 Casting News, Title Rumors, Release Date Update - ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1’ Star Jeffrey Wright Talks Felix Leiter In 2015 007 Movie
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 hits theaters next week and it is expected to break box office numbers once again, this time for 2014. Franchise star Jeffrey Wright, who joined the film series in Catching Fire as Beetee, during some promotional interviews this week revealed why he thinks the YA novel series adaptation also has a huge affect on adult audiences. Plus, he also spoke briefly about his James Bond character, Felix Leiter, and if he'd be featured in the 24th 007 film set for 2015.
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First of all, Wright revealed some interesting news about the next James Bond movie. According to the actor, his character will not be appearing in the new Sam Mendes film due to his Hunger Games responsibilities.
"Felix is going to be playing Beetee next fall or whenever it comes out," he told Slash Film in a new interview.
Read our previous coverage of Bond 24 here, where we talked about Sam Smith possibly taking on the theme song for the project! Also, check out other casting news about Christoph Waltz!
This new Slash Film interview also dove into the appeal of Hunger Games on adult audiences, despite its origins as a YA novel.
"They're books told from the perspective of a young girl who is operating in a very mature world, a world that, as drawn by Suzanne Collins, doesn't pull punches on the complexity of the themes that she's exploring, which are themes around class division and war and the consequences of war on society and on warriors particularly," he explained. "I think these themes are obviously, maybe too resonant for us now. She's managed to craft a very accessible cosmology. What I think is fascinating about what she's done is that she allows space, even though the books have political undertones, she's allowed space across partisan lines for participation."
In another interview with The Fresno Bee, Wright went on to compliment the books.
"I think it was essential to read the books," he said. "Plus, it's also a great read, an important read because it doesn't pull punches on social and political issues."
Let us know what you think of Wright's statements in the comments section below!