A couple of years back now we found out that Kung Fu Panda 2 and Kung Fu Panda 3 director Jennifer Yuh Nelson had signed on to direct The Darkest Minds. The movie, which was written by Chad Hodge (Good Behavior, Wayward Pines), is an adaptation of author Alexandra Bracken‘s novel of the same name, which is part of an existing trilogy (with a new book on the way) that will no doubt be used in sequels should this perform well at the box office.

Now 20th Century Fox has released an official trailer for the movie, which stars Amandla Stenberg, Harris Dickinson, Skylan Brooks, Miya Cech, Mandy Moore, and Gwendoline Christie. Producing is Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Arrival) and Dan Levine (Arrival, Along Came Polly).

Continue below for more info on The Darkest Minds and to check out the trailer and a new poster.

Those robust drum sounds you hear should be enough to get you in the mood for a groove. Everyone’s favorite birds are back for Blue Sky Studio’s Rio 2. Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg return once more to reprise their respective roles as two rare blue birds who fly the friendly Brazilian skies.

The trailer will expand on viewers’ musical tastes as you get to see the animals from the preceeding Rio dance their way back into your memories. Also returning are will.i.am, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, and Jamie Foxx.

Check out the new trailer below.

The Hunger Games
Blu-ray | DVD
DIRECTOR: Gary Ross
WRITER: Billy Ray, Suzanne Collins, Gary Ross
STARRING: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Alexander Ludwig, Amandla Stenberg, Wes Bentley, Donald Sutherland, Willow Shields, Paula Malcolmson, Toby Jones
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
RELEASE DATE: August 17, 2012

Before a movie adaptation of The Hunger Games was announced, I knew not one thing about it, not even the title. Going into finally seeing the movie for myself, I knew it was based on a wildly popular book series and whatever small story and character tidbits picked up while writing about various casting news and such. This is how I prefer going into any movie, whether it be an adaptation or sequel or completely original, so that there is no expectation whatsoever.

The premise is simple, yet also quite brutal. After an apocalyptic event transforms North America, a wealthy government called the Capitol takes total control over the less-wealthy people and forms them into thirteen districts. After an uprising by the people ultimately results in the destruction of one of the districts, an unthinkable punishment is put into effect to keep everyone in check: each year, one boy and one girl ages 12-18 from each of the twelve districts will be selected at random to compete in the Hunger Games, where all 24 will fight to the death until only one remains.

The lead roles for the movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins‘ popular novel, The Hunger Games, were taken care of early with Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence set to play Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth locked in for the roles of Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne.

Since the leads were cast, the team working on the movie have been very busy bringing together a bunch of supporting actors to solidify the cast. A short time ago it was reported that Elizabeth Banks (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Zack and Miri Make A Porno) was in talks to play Effie Trinket, the eventual handler of Lawrence’s Katniss. The talks have now been sorted out, and Banks has been officially confirmed for the role.