Star of The Hunger Games heads to York to talk about milestone movie

He’s starred in one of the biggest film franchises of the decade – and one of its most acclaimed TV series.

Now US actor, activist and writer Woody Harrelson is coming to York to talk movies.

The man best known as Haymitch Abernathy, the mentor in The Hunger Games, and lauded for his role opposite Matthew McConaughey in HBO drama True Detective is here to talk about a very unusual project.

Back in January, Woody Harrelson directed and starred in a world’s first: a movie made on the fly, shot in real time in London in a single take and broadcast live to cinemas across the world.

The result was comedy drama Lost in London (12A), Harrelson’s directorial debut.

Following a showing of the film at York City Screen there’s a Q&A session with Woody Harrelson – part of his tour of Picturehouse cinemas to promote the new film.

City Screen marketing director Emma Parker described the prospect as“very exciting – as we don’t often get such big Hollywood actors in.”

Sparkling career

Woody Harrelson is a highly respected and well-known actor, being a two-time Academy Award nominee and Emmy award winner.

After finding fame as barman Woody in sitcom Cheers, he became a big screen star in movies including the controversial Natural Born Killers.

Later he found new audiences in his role in The Hunger Games films.

Pioneering film

Lost in London is a comical remake of one crazy night in Soho experienced by Harrelson.

He struggles to get home to his family after a huge scandal threatens to ruin his marriage. Run-ins with royalty, friends and the law all try to prevent him from succeeding.

The film also stars Owen Wilson and Willie Nelson.

It has been described as funny, charming and above all, moving, with The Guardian claiming “Harrelson’s directorial debut is a unique work that fuses technical wizardry with self-deprecating satire”.