The Hunger Games sequel has been approved for a November 21 release on more than 3,000 screens in China.

Lionsgate announced the development (October 22) in the run-up to the North American launch on November 22, with around 50 distributors from the rest of the world set to launch the film that weekend.

The film will be released nationwide in China with both dubbed and subtitled prints by the China Film Group in conjunction with Lionsgate’s Beijing-based promotional partner Talent International Film Co.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has become a truly global phenomenon, and its day-and-date release in this key territory further cements its status as a worldwide motion picture event of epic proportions,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-chairs Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman.

“The release of the first Hunger Games film in China established a strong fan base on which Catching Fire is positioned to build,” said Wendy Reeds, evp of content sales and distribution for Celestial Tiger Entertainment.

“China has become one of the world’s leading box office territories, and the release of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in China is another major step forward in our distribution of film and TV content in this key market.”

Lionsgate is currently in production in Georgia on the third and fourth Hunger Games films, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay I & II.