20th Century Fox has released the first trailer for director Brad Furman‘s (The Lincoln Lawyer) crime thriller Runner, Runner.  The film stars Justin Timberlake as a Princeton student who is cheated out of his tuition money playing online poker and ends up indebted to the site’s corrupt boss (Ben Affleck).  Furman’s The Lincoln Lawyer turned out to be a pleasantly surprising dramatic thriller, and Runner, Runner appears to quite similar to that pic in tone.  No one looks to be gunning for Oscar glory here, but the interplay between Affleck and Timberlake is promising and it’s fun to see Affleck taking on a more villainous role.  Moreover, the Puerto Rico locale provides a nice change of pace from the gritty, metropolis-set thrillers that populate the marketplace nowadays.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film also stars Gemma Arterton, Ben Schwartz, Dayo Okeniyi and Oliver Cooper.  Runner, Runner opens September 27th. 

A bunch of TV stars found their way into the movies and one Hunger Games actor saw the odds turn in his favor. Here’s your big-screen casting round-up:

• Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) will star in independent Canadian comedy Sex and Sunsets.
• Dianna Agron (Glee) will join Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer in Luc Besson’s action-comedy Malavita
• Gillian Jacobs (Community) will co-star in horror-comedy Milo
• The Hunger Games’ Dayo Okeniyi will play in Runner Runner starring Ben Affleck and indie high school drama The Spectacular Now

Hit the jump for more on all four projects.

Calling all Hunger Games fans: we’ve got a good deal of Panem-related material to wade through today. A batch of new images and an IMAX banner from the film have been released, and Lionsgate announced that advanced tickets for the film go on sale tomorrow. Additionally, the studio is planning a national mall tour to give fans a chance to meet the actors from the film at their local shopping mecca. Director Gary Ross, stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and more will be popping up at malls across the country to participate in fan Q&A’s. I’m not exactly sure The Hunger Games needs a mall tour in order to drum up awareness (it feels very 80s pop star), but I guess it gives superfans a chance to interact with the cast.

Hit the jump to check out the images and banner, as well as the full list of participating mall tour cities which includes information on which actors will be at which events. The Hunger Games opens March 23rd.

It’s a slow news day so here’s some minor casting news: Paula Malcomson (Deadwood) has been cast as the mother of protagonist Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her younger sister Primrose (Willow Shields) in The Hunger Games.  According to Heat Vision, Mrs. Everdeen “is grieving after her husband’s death, living in fear that her daughters will participate in the deadly Hunger Games.”  I haven’t read the books so I don’t know how major the role is, but Malcomson was tremendous on Deadwood so I’m glad to see her nab a role in a major flick like this.

Casting for the movie has been chugging along the past several weeks with Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Amandla Stenberg, Dayo Okeniyi, Leven Rambin, and Jack Quaid having joined the project thus far.  Elizabeth Banks is currently in talks to play the role of Effie.  Hit the jump for the official synopsis.  The Hunger Games opens March 23, 2012.

Lionsgate has sent out a press release announcing that newcomer Willow Shields has landed the role of Primrose Everdeen in Gary Ross’ adaptation of The Hunger Games.  Primrose is the younger sister of protagonist Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawerence).  When Primrose is selected to fight as one of District 12′s tributes in the deadly Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place.  Said Ross of casting Shields, “It’s so exciting to find an amazing young actress like the one we just met.  Prim is an emotionally demanding role and in many ways she is the cornerstone of the story.  Willow Shields will make an amazing Prim and we’re very lucky to have her.”

The film also stars Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Dayo Okeniyi, Amandla Stenberg, Jack Quaid, Leven Rambin, and possibly Elizabeth Banks.  Hit the jump for the official synopsis.  The Hunger Games is set to open on March 23, 2012.

Dayo Okeniyi and Amandla Stenberg will play District 11 tributes Thresh and Rue in Gary Ross’ adaptation of The Hunger Games.  Lionsgate has set up a Facebook page where they’ll be revealing all of the tributes from the 12 districts.  Previously-announced cast members Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson play District 12′s tributes Katniss (the story’s protagonist) and Peeta (her love interest). Liam Hemsworth co-stars as Katniss’ friend Gale.

Hit the jump for the official synopsis.  The Hunger Games opens March 23, 2012.