On March 23rd, Lionsgate Films will be releasing
The Hunger Games, the much anticipated adaptation of Suzanne Collins hugely successful Hunger Games Trilogy. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence (
Winter's Bone), Josh Hucherson (
The Kids Are
Alright), and Liam Helmsworth (
The Last Song).
As fans of the novels are already aware, The Hunger Games is about a futuristic society where natural disasters have all but destroyed North America. The new Capitol now requires each of the 12 Districts to send 1 boy and 1 girl between the ages of 12-18 to fight in a battle to the death in the annual Hunger Games. Previously, there was an violent uprising where the districts attempted to rise up against the Capital, and ultimately failed. Their ongoing punishment are the yearly Hunger Games.
In District 12, Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) volunteers to take her younger sister's place when Prim's name is called in the lottery. Katniss, along with the male Tribute, Peeta Mellark, (Hutcherson) is taken away to the Capital to prepare for the games. Along with them goes the only winner to ever come from District 12, Haymitch (played by Woody Harrelson), whose job it is to help them try to survive. They are also accompanied by Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), who is the official escort of the District 12 Tributes. Then, after being prepped by Haymitch and their image consultant Cina (Lenny Kravitch), they are taken into the arena to begin the games. Katniss and Peeta struggle to survive the games while maintaining their humanity.
Based on the trailers that have been released, the film seems as though it will avoid the problems that plagued the Twilight films. For example, they have made sure to enlist a cast that consists of Jennifer Lawrence, who was nominated for her performance in Winter's Bone; Harrelson, who has been nominated for Academy Awards, SAG awards, and film fest awards, and Hutcherson, who was in the award winning The Kids Are Alright. The trailers also indicate that the film version will not shy away from the dark, sinister nature of the novels. The trailers show that the overall essence of the books seems to have been kept while transferring author Suzanne Collins' vision onto the big screen.
For more information, you can visit:
The Hunger Games Facebook Page
e are also movie tie in versions of the book and a Tribute Guide to help complete your Hunger Games collection. 
