The First Teaser Trailer for 'Mockingjay' Is Here at Last

Culture

Mockingjay's marketing blitzkrieg continues with the first teaser trailer, released at Comic Con over the weekend. In keeping with the film's other promotional materials, this is not your average teaser for a big blockbuster. We spend more time with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Julianne Moore than with the movie's star, Jennifer Lawrence.

 

The trailer focuses on the even bleaker conditions emerging in Panem after Catching Fire's Quarter Quell tournament. The powers that be are fighting over the symbolism of Katniss, from Donald Sutherland's President Snow leading a crackdown special force against Mockingjay supporters to Plutarch Heavensbee (Hoffman) and President Coin (Moore) deliberating Katniss' very eligibility to stand up against the authorities.

We also get a brief glimpse of Natalie Dormer, devoid of Margaery Tyrell's finery, looking decidedly more action-ready as Capitol film director Cressida. Jennifer Lawrence only appears briefly, and stammers out her agreement to join the rebellion. 

After the heavily stylized early trailers and the beautiful poster designs, this teaser trailer grounds the film in a more traditional sci-fi look. But the focus on the political backdrop rather than combat, banter or even the lead character still gives Mockingjay a pervasive and ominous feeling of despair that is hard to shake. 

Mockingjay: Part 1 will be released in cinemas Nov. 21, 2014.