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‘The Hunger Games’ In 2012: Our Five Forecasts

From the film’s premiere to casting ‘Catching Fire,’ Hobnobbing takes a look at what to look forward to this year. By Amy Wilkinson Jennifer Lawrence in the “Hunger Games” trailer Photo: Lionsgate The past year boasted a cornucopia of ” Hunger Games ” highlights for fans to chew on, from the casting of Jennifer Lawrence as gritty heroine Katniss Everdeen to the first full-length trailer to the recent debut of Taylor Swift’s soundtrack song “Safe and Sound.” But as bountiful as 2011’s harvest was, 2012 will offer a bumper crop of news from the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ dystopian tome as it finally hits theaters March 23. Though our calls to Greasy Sae’s Psychic Hotline have gone unanswered, we have a few educated guesses about what the new year holds for Panem’s people. Read on for our five forecasts: 1. One more trailer With just about two and a half months to go until the first film’s debut, we’d bet a silver parachute that fans will get to feast on one more look at Katniss, Peeta and Gale before the tributes enter the arena. What another clip would include , well, we’re less sure about that, but we wouldn’t mind a closer look at life in District 12 or a more detailed glimpse at the other 22 tributes. 2. A full soundtrack announcement Swift, the Civil Wars, the Decemberists and Arcade Fire’s husband/wife duo of Win Butler and Regine Chassagne have all been secured for the T-Bone Burnett-produced soundtrack, but we suspect a few more artists will enter the fray before all is said and sung. I’ve already made my plea for Florence and the Machine , while NextMovie suggested acts like Snow Patrol and Regina Spektor for the much-anticipated album. We’ll keep our ears to the ground for this one. 3. The film’s premiere Unless the apocalypse comes early, March 23 will be a blessed day for “Hunger Games” acolytes, as the flick will finally blaze into theaters. We expect more than a few faithful to camp out at their local cineplex for a midnight showing. And we’re more than ready to drool over whatever confections Lawrence wears on the red carpet during the movie’s premieres and publicity circuit. 4. Casting “Catching Fire” With the second “Hunger Games” installment already slated for a November 22, 2013, release (and an Oscar-winning writer being eyed for the script), we expect the follow-up to begin shooting in mid- to late 2012 — which means a whole new slew of casting calls! Where are you Finnick , Johanna, Beetee and Mags? 5. First look at “Catching Fire” Asking for a celluloid sneak would be a stretch, but we don’t think it’s completely inconceivable to think a first snapshot might find its way to the Web by the final days of 2012. Here’s hoping the “Catching Fire” director (whomever he/she will be) isn’t afraid to take a cue from “Breaking Dawn” helmer Bill Condon, who released the first photographic teaser for the final “Twilight” installments over Thanksgiving in 2010. Happy holidays, “Hunger Games” fans? What are your expectations for “The Hunger Games” in 2012? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me @amymwilk with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns! Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com .

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‘The Hunger Games’ In 2012: Our Five Forecasts

Adele Helps Push Music Biz To First Sales Jump Since 2004

Music sales posted a 3 percent sales increase last year, thanks in no small part to 21 . By James Montgomery Adele Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ FilmMagic Call it the Adele Effect: Music sales actually rose in 2011, the first time the industry has posted a gain in seven years. According to Nielsen SoundScan, overall sales were up a modest 3 percent last year, as consumers purchased some 458 million albums — digital downloads of albums rose 20 percent, to 103 million, while sales of compact discs sank nearly 6 percent, to 225 million — and downloaded more than 1.2 billion singles, a 9 percent increase from the previous year. It’s all a welcome change of pace for the music industry, which in recent years has been battered by double-digit declines in sales. And, while there are certainly mitigating factors that contributed to the sales gains — the RIAA’s ongoing antipiracy efforts, an increase of consumers with mobile devices, the rise of services like Spotify and Google Music — it certainly didn’t hurt that Adele released one of the biggest-selling albums in recent memory last year, not to mention a pair of much-downloaded singles. Her 21 album sold more than 5.8 million copies in 2011 — the most of any album since Usher’s Confessions in 2004 (which, incidentally, marks the last year the industry saw increases in total sales) — and her massive “Rolling in the Deep” has also sold some 5.8 million copies. She sold nearly 900,000 copies of her debut album, 19, last year, too. Big sellers like Lady Gaga ‘s Born This Way and Michael Bubl

Chris Brown Won’t Be Doing Interviews In 2012

‘If people are going to judge anything, judge him for his talent,’ manager tells Billboard of crafting strategy for the pop&B star. By Rebecca Thomas Chris Brown Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images There’ll be no chair-throwing in 2012. After a year in which Chris Brown ‘s applause-worthy feats — Billboard 200 chart-topper F.A.M.E. and a successful tour of the same name — at times threatened to be overshadowed by his penchant for (social) media gaffes, the singer’s team has announced they’re implementing a ban on interviews. Asked whether there was a specific strategy planned for Brown in the New Year, the 22-year-old’s manager, Tina Davis, told Billboard magazine it was to “not have him do interviews but to concentrate on performing and recording,” adding that the idea had been germinating for some time. Last May, Breezy made headlines after a “Good Morning America” interview , when he vented frustration over a line of questioning that zeroed in on ex Rihanna by hurling a chair through a backstage window afterward. The wave of bad press that ensued hit just as the Virginia-born crooner was making the rounds to promote his fourth studio effort, F.A.M.E. Now, as he preps the follow-up to that disc, Fortune, Davis seems determined to steer clear of any possible speed bumps. “We’re not trying to be rude, selfish or disrespectful to anyone in any way,” she told the mag. “If people are going to judge anything, judge him for his talent. He signed up to sing and entertain. Not to talk about his personal life.” Brown may be taking a cue from another superstar, Kanye West, whose self-imposed press-lockout has yielded some impressively expansive Twitter sprees . But it remains to be seen whether the singer will take to the social-networking site as an outlet in similar fashion. On New Year’s Eve, the “Look at Me Now” singer sent a heartfelt message to his fan faithful: “I LOVE Team Breezy unconditionally! Goodbye 2011. Let 2012 bring as much peace positivity and happiness as possible!” he wrote in a hopeful, if wistful, post. He hasn’t tweeted since. What do you think of C.Breezy giving the press the cold shoulder this year? Sound off on our Facebook page or in the comments below. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Chris Brown Related Artists Chris Brown

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Chris Brown Won’t Be Doing Interviews In 2012

Black Keys Drummer Says Nickelback Are ‘Crap’

Patrick Carney blames the band for ruining rock and roll in interview with Rolling Stone. By James Montgomery Black Keys on the cover of Rolling Stone Photo: Rolling Stone Having already spent a portion of 2011 taking Twitter shots at Lady Gaga, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney is kicking off 2012 with another feud … only this time, he’s setting his sights on Nickleback. In the new issue of

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Black Keys Drummer Says Nickelback Are ‘Crap’

Jeremy Renner ‘Not Injured’ In Bar Fight

A rep disputes a report to MTV News that the ‘Mission Impossible’ actor was injured in Thailand. By Jocelyn Vena Jeremy Renner Photo: Getty Images “Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol” star Jeremy Renner is just fine. Despite previous reports, the actor’s rep confirmed to MTV News that he was not injured in a bar fight in Thailand. “Jeremy was there [but] was not involved,” a rep for the actor told MTV News. “When a fight broke out, he exited [and] was not injured.” The Phuket Gazette reports that Renner had been hanging out at the Rachada Pub in Phuket Town when six employees stabbed and injured two local men, Sri Panwa Resort General Manager Vorasit Issara and Maj Gen Chonasit, early Wednesday. The newspaper further reports that Renner had been in their company, along with Vorasit’s driver, Noppadon Preechawai, and several other friends. The Gazette originally reported that Renner had been injured in the scuffle. Prior to arriving at Rachada Pub, the group had also been spotted at two other local hotspots, KorTorMor Pub and another club near Royal Phuket City Hotel. The six men are currently being held by local authorities and addressed the media at a press conference on Thursday. The pub where the incident occurred has since been shut down for six months because it violated a local curfew. Renner has been in Manila, Philippines filming “The Bourne Legacy,” the actor’s rep said. He recently opened up to MTV News about filming “Legacy” and filling in the spot left vacant by the franchise’s longtime star, Matt Damon. “He’s always been so complimentary to me from the moment I met him. Such a great guy,” Renner said. “He’s a very, very complimentary, loving dude.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Bourne Legacy.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .

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Jeremy Renner ‘Not Injured’ In Bar Fight

Maino Predicts He’ll Be In Katy Perry, Rihanna Love Triangle

‘I’m gonna be like a different person’ in 2012, rapper jokes to Sway on ‘RapFix Live.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Maino on ‘RapFix Live’ Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News With 2011 out of the door and the New Year upon us, Maino is looking forward to the coming 12 months. Every year since 2009, the Brooklyn MC has released a predictions-themed song. On his “2011 Predictions” Main successfully guessed that Lindsay Lohan would have relapsing bouts with alcohol and that the Throne would sell over a million records. On Wednesday’s “RapFix Live,” Maino dropped some major 2012 predictions. “I got a couple,” the rapper admitted when Sway asked him what reveals he had for the next 12 months. “Forget what you heard, Obama’s gonna win.” That wasn’t all, however. “This is the year you gonna see a transformation for me. I’m gonna be like a different person. I’m gonna get caught up in a love triangle,” Maino said, pausing before adding, “with Rihanna and Katy Perry.” Maino’s playful prediction may seem far-fetched, but with the news that Perry’s hubby Russell Brand has filed for divorce , the pop star is back on the market. As far as Rihanna, the Bajan beauty revealed to Ellen DeGeneres in a November 2011 interview that she is very single . So from a logistical standpoint anything is possible — we guess. That wasn’t all. Maino, who has stood as one of rap’s top street artists, says he is about to undergo an artistic change as well. “I’m leaving rap. I’m leaving hip-hop. I’m gonna become an R&B artist. I’ma be the artist formerly known as Maino, but my new name is gonna be Jaguar Paw,” he joked. “These is my predictions.” What do you think of Maino’s predictions for 2012? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Maino Related Artists Maino Rihanna Katy Perry

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Maino Predicts He’ll Be In Katy Perry, Rihanna Love Triangle

Adele Starts 2012 Topping Billboard Albums Chart Once Again

Her 21 , which debuted nearly a year ago, sold more than 144,000 copies. By James Montgomery Adele Photo: Getty Images New year, same story: Adele ‘s unstoppable 21 sold more than 144,000 copies to claim the top spot on the first Billboard albums chart of 2012, easily outpacing Drake ‘s Take Care, which landed at #2 with sales of nearly 72,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. As it approaches the one-year anniversary of its release, 21 — which was 2011’s biggest seller by a huge margin — shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, with this week’s numbers, it has now sold some 5.8 million copies in the U.S., making it the best-selling album since Usher’s massive Confessions, which moved 7.9 million copies in 2004. Young Jeezy ‘s TM 103: Hustlerz Ambition holds strong at #3 on this week’s chart, selling more than 67,000 copies in its second week. Lady Antebellum ‘s Own the Night is up next at #4 with sales of nearly 54,000 copies. And buoyed by the chart-topping success of single “Sexy and I Know It,” LMFAO ‘s Sorry for Party Rocking leaps from #16 all the way up to #5. Florence and the Machine ‘s Ceremonials (sales of more than 47,000 copies), the Black Keys ‘ El Camino (more than 45,000), Coldplay ‘s Mylo Xyloto (more than 44,000), Rihanna ‘s Talk That Talk (more than 42,000) and the 40th installment of the ubiquitous Now collection (more than 41,000) round out the top 10. The week’s biggest debut belongs to Skrillex , whose new Bangarang EP opens at #19, with sales of nearly 24,000 copies. The Trent Reznor / Atticus Ross “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” soundtrack makes its chart debut at #44, selling more than 14,000 copies. And, in a true sign that the holidays are officially over, Canadian crooner Michael Bubl

‘Avengers,’ ‘Spider-Man’ Fans: Where Are You?

Marvel movies struggling to stay competitive in MTV Movie Brawl 2012. By Josh Wigler Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. in “Avengers” Photo: Marvel Welcome to 2012, the year that’s destined to change the comic book movie landscape forever. Not only is Christopher Nolan months away from closing out his smash-hit Batman trilogy with “The Dark Knight Rises,” but two of the most important Marvel Comics movies of all time — “Marvel’s The Avengers” and “The Amazing Spider-Man” — are about to be released as well. With “Avengers,” Marvel Studios is paying off years of buildup by putting Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and more together in one monstrously sized flick, an unprecedented move in the comic book movie scene. The idea of seeing Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans in their signature superhero roles alongside one another — under geek god Joss Whedon’s directorial vision, no less — seems positively irresistible. In the case of “Spider-Man,” here’s a franchise that has already proven itself capable of raking in millions and millions of dollars, starring a wise-cracking web-head widely adored throughout the world. Except this time, Peter Parker’s sporting darker shades of red and blue. Gone is series lead Tobey Maguire , replaced by British up-and-comer Andrew Garfield . Away too is Sam Raimi, with relatively unknown director Marc Webb of “(500) Days of Summer” stepping behind the lens. Rebooting the “Spider-Man” creative team and universe wholesale only five years after the last Maguire/Raimi joint is a risky gamble on Sony’s part, but like “Avengers,” we can’t wait to see how it all shakes out. Or can we? Voting Is Open In MTV Movie Brawl 2012! If you haven’t heard, MTV Movies is in the midst of the MTV Movie Brawl 2012 , a tournament that pits some of the year’s biggest releases against one another to determine which movie you, the fans, are most excited for in the coming months. Currently, 32 flicks are slugging it out for an opportunity to snag one of next week’s Sweet 16 seats, where the Brawl will transition into a single-elimination bracket tournament. On the surface, there’s no reason that “The Avengers” and “Spider-Man” shouldn’t make it into the Sweet 16, if not further. But as it stands, two days into the competition, both of these movies are struggling in the vote, so much so that they’re at serious risk of not making it past the first round. As a die-hard Marvel fan, I’m shocked to see such a lack of support behind Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their friendly neighborhood wall-crawling pal. Has the word on the competition simply not spread to those of you who would vote for “Spider-Man” and “Avengers,” or is the interest really not there? Despite every reason to be excited for these movies, can it be that at the end of the day, Marvel’s biggest movies of 2012 simply aren’t resonating with the moviegoing crowd? I hope it’s the former, not the latter. (I can only click “vote” for both movies so many times!) But if for some reason you’re just not that interested in “Avengers” assembling and “Spider-Man” swinging into theaters this summer, I’m really curious to hear why. Why is it that you’re not foaming at the mouth for two of the most important movies ever to come from the House of Ideas? Why aren’t you sold yet? Marvel fans… where are you ? Check out everything we’ve got on “The Amazing Spider-Man” and “Marvel’s The Avengers.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Videos Get Ready For MTV Movie Brawl 2012! Related Photos Key Scenes From The ‘Avengers’ Trailer ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’

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‘Avengers,’ ‘Spider-Man’ Fans: Where Are You?

‘Breaking Dawn’ Leading In Round One Of MTV Movie Brawl!

‘Hunger Games’ races to front, while dark horses ‘John Carter’ and ‘Dark Shadows’ also show promise in 2012 tourney. By Eric Ditzian Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in “Breaking Dawn – Part 1” Photo: Summit Entertainment It’s the brawl to win it all! On Tuesday, we launched MTV Movie Brawl 2012 , a winner-take-all tournament to pick this year’s must-see movie. Starting with 32 films in an epic “play-in” round to pick 16 flicks that will make it into our March Madness-style bracket, the Brawl has kicked off with fans giving it 110 percent, determined to leave it all out on the field, and ready to step up and make plays. This is what the playoffs are all about. As MTV News’ team of analysts pointed out at the start of the tourney, there are three front-runners at this early point in the competition: “Breaking Dawn – Part 2,” “The Hunger Games” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” So far, two of those flicks are living up to expectations, while one is going to have a lot of questions to answer if it can’t turn things around. “Breaking Dawn” has staked out an early lead and has got to be an odds-on favorite to secure a #1 seed when the 16-team bracket is chosen at the end of this first round. Hunger Games has got its game face on and is trailing close behind; a number-one seed for this rookie sensation seems like a lock. “Dark Knight Rises,” however, is not showing the determination and drive we’d expect from a film with such ravenous fans. Christopher Nolan’s third Batman movie has settled into the #6 slot thus far and will have to pick up the slack if it expects to head into the bracket with any sort of momentum. Voting in round one is open in MTV Movie Brawl 2012! Films that have been flexing some unexpected Movie Brawl muscle include “John Carter” and “Dark Shadows.” The former hits theaters in March, the latter in May; what they both have in common are fans coming out of the woodwork to support their underdogs and turn them into dark horses. Meanwhile, no one who’s been paying attention to the cinematic landscape should be surprised that “Snow White and the Huntsman” has been playing like a savvy vet, given that the film is led by Kristen Stewart. Veteran leadership, especially from “Twilight” stars, is going to prove a key factor as the Brawl moves forward. On the other end of the spectrum, there are a few films that are going to have to look themselves in the mirror and ask if they truly want to be in this competition. “Skyfall” and “The Amazing Spider-Man,” for instance, are both floundering in the back of the pack. Unless fans step up and vote for Bond and Spidey, these films are looking at an early trip home and months of second-guessing. And while we don’t expect high-brow fare like Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” to be able to tussle with the big franchises, we were hoping for more from QT fans than a first-round exit. So that’s where we stand on the second day of the competition. Anything can happen at this point. Seriously. That’s why we’ve just introduced a wild-card round in which fans will be able to add a few movies that didn’t make the original 32 — Robert Pattinson’s “Cosmopolis”? Emma Watson’s “Perks of Being a Wallflower”? — and, if they deliver enough votes, slip them into the 16-movie bracket. Voting in the first round closes Sunday, January 8, and the bracket kicks off on Monday, January 9. What are you waiting for? Your must-see movie needs your support. It’s time to show character, poise and heart. Vote for your picks now at MTV Movie Brawl 2012 ! Related Videos Get Ready For MTV Movie Brawl 2012! ‘Dark Knight Rises’: The Year In Review ‘The Hunger Games’: 2011 In Review

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‘Breaking Dawn’ Leading In Round One Of MTV Movie Brawl!

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Prologue: Bane Explained!

MTV News walks you through the garbled dialogue and intricate plot of the Batman teaser. By Kevin P. Sullivan Bane in “Dark Knight Rises” Photo: Warner Bros. Even two weeks after “The Dark Knight Rises” prologue debuted before select IMAX showings of “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” everyone who saw it can’t seem to stop talking about Bane and what he says — or at least what people thought he said. Ever since the preview’s premiere, there has been talk of tweaking audio levels and lowering background noise in order to make Bane more intelligible. Just Tuesday, a rumor circulated that Warner Bros. had provided IMAX projectionists with an adjusted soundtrack for the prologue . Warner Bros. denied the claim, but talk of changes persists. If you’ve already seen the prologue, adjusting audio levels now won’t help you until the July release of the finished film, so we’ve gone over the footage and decoded each story element and every line of Bane’s dialogue for you. ( Major spoilers ahead! ) The Setup Most of the confusion about what’s going on starts before we even see Bane. We jump right into the story without much explanation of what’s going on. “Leaked” CIA documents, used as part of a viral campaign, fill in some of the blanks. Dr. Pavel, a missing Russian nuclear physicist, seeks asylum in the United States with the help of the CIA. Pavel believes he is in immediate danger and goes into hiding. A group of mercenaries find him and negotiate with the CIA to deliver the scientist over to them safely, at the cost of $3 million. The prologue begins with that exchange. Bane The mercenaries bring along three unexpected guests to the party with the CIA. The leader of the soldiers informs the head agent that the men work for Bane. Eager to learn more about the masked man, the CIA agent brings the three men onto the airplane but only promises safe passage to the one who talks the most. Bane then speaks his first line as the agent threatens his men. “Or perhaps he’s wondering why someone would shoot a man before throwing him out of a plane.” Bane and the agent exchange some words, during which we get some background on his character. His mask keeps him from experiencing severe pain caused by a yet-unknown ailment. It also was what made people pay attention to Bane in the first place. “No one cared who I was until I put on the mask.” The Plan From here, we see Bane’s master plan play out. A large plane hooks onto the smaller one flown by the CIA and drags it into a nosedive. There’s a small fight inside, but Bane and his men win handily. They lower a dead body in a bag into the plane and perform a transfusion with Dr. Pavel, so when the wreckage is found, the DNA matches the missing doctor. As the group prepares to exit, Bane informs one of his younger partners in crime that he must stay behind in order to avoid suspicion. When the man asks Bane if they have started a fire, he replies with the now-famous line: “The fire rises.” Pretty straightforward, right? Check out everything we’ve got on “The Dark Knight Rises.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Videos ‘Dark Knight Rises’: The Year In Review Related Photos On The Set Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Trailer: 5 Key Scenes

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‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Prologue: Bane Explained!