Summit/Lionsgate is taking a rather nontraditional approach to unveiling the highly anticipated first trailer of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1. Instead of debuting the footage to a packed Hall H of cheering Katniss fans at Comic-Con, the studio will be debuting the trailer in the "Capitol Gallery" at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, near the convention center. Nationwide, the trailer will later be made available at Best Buy throughout the weekend, and then by Google Play through certain Galaxy devices.
It all starts in San Diego on Friday, July 25 when cast members of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 will introduce the trailer on a Galaxy Tab S, at the Samsung Galaxy Experience at the Hard Rock. The next day, it becomes available at Best Buy stores around the country, and then on Monday, it'll be available as part of the Hunger Games Movie Pack App, which owners of select Samsung devices will be able to download.
Here's the exact plan of action...
During San Diego Comic-Con:On Friday, July 25 at 12:00pm PT, cast members from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 will introduce the trailer on the Galaxy Tab S in the Capitol Gallery located in the Samsung Galaxy Experience in San Diego (in the Hard Rock Hotel, corner of 5th and L Streets).Nationwide at Best Buy:Fans outside the San Diego area can also get an exclusive preview of the first official The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 trailer beginning on Saturday, July 26 and extending through Sunday, July 27 by visiting Samsung Experience Shops inside select Best Buy locations. While supplies last, visitors will receive one complimentary pass to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 when it opens in theaters November 21.The Hunger Games Movie Pack App:As part of the collaboration, The Hunger Games Movie Pack App will be available to download for free on select Samsung devices* beginning July 28, via Google Play. The app will give Galaxy owners access to exclusive Hunger Games content, including scripts, book excerpts, video clips and more.Galaxy Tab S owners will have the opportunity to download the first two Hunger Games films for free, in addition to receiving all the exclusive content through the app. Samsung will continue to deliver exclusive Hunger Games content to Galaxy owners through the app leading up to the film’s premiere on November 21. *
All of this is in advance of the trailer's online release.
It's certainly a different approach to take for such a big trailer. On one hand, if Samsung's looking to partner with a hugely anticipated movie to promote their Galaxy, The Hunger Games is a great option, as people really are excited for their first good look at the first part of the two-part adaptation of Mockingjay. Those eager enough to see the trailer will surely get themselves to a Best Buy -- or to someone with access to a Galaxy device -- to see the trailer, and in the process, they'll be previewing the Galaxy Tab S. So the upside for Samsung is obvious. The downside is for those out of range of Comic-Con, Best Buy or a Galaxy tablet will have to wait until it makes its way online to see the trailer. Whenever that happens.
Directed by Francis Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 arrives in theaters November 21. While we wait for the trailer, catch the unsettling posters and teasers for the film here.
