The Hunger Games (film)

The Hunger Games is an upcoming movie adaptation of the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. Gary Ross is directing the film under the working title Artemis

Plot
In the remains of North America lies the country of Panem, where there are 12 districts that must choose one girl and one boy between the ages of 12 to 18 to compete in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death in an arena on live television as punishment for the 'Dark Days' when the 12 districts rebelled together against the country's government, the Capitol. When 16 year old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to takes her sister Prim's (Willow Shields) place in the Games, she will leave behind her family and her friend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), meet her fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), and be pitted against other tributes from fellow districts who have trained for this their whole life. Katniss must try her hardest to do the unthinkable—win the Hunger Games.

Development
Lionsgate Entertainment acquired worldwide distribution rights to a film adaptation of The Hunger Games, which is being produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force production company. Suzanne Collins adapted the novel for film herself, with rewriting by Billy Ray However, the said first draft of the script has been replaced by the one made by Collins and Ross together. When asked on his thoughts on his script being replaced, Ray said "I don't have any." From $60 million, the budget for the film has been increased to $75 million. To promote the project, Lionsgate put up an official Facebook page for the film. On May 18, 2011, Entertainment Weekly revealed on their magazine cover the very first photo of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen.

The expected release date for the movie is March 23, 2012.

Filming
The actors for the film have undergone extensive "boot camp-like" training to prepare for their roles. The first part of filming took place in Henry River Mill, Hildebran, North Carolina from May 18 to 25. According to The Star, the newspaper of Cleveland County, North Carolina, filming resumed on May 26 in Shelby, North Carolina. Some of the most important scenes were shot between May 26 and June 1. Security on the area remained extensive. Some scenes in the arena are being shot in Dupont, State Forest.

Tributes

 * Jennifer Lawrence - Katniss Everdeen, the female tribute from District 12. Protagonist and narrator of the story.
 * Josh Hutcherson - Peeta Mellark, the male tribute from District 12 and Katniss' love interest.
 * Jack Quaid - Marvel, the male tribute from District 1.
 * Leven Rambin - Glimmer, the female tribute from District 1.
 * Alexander Ludwig - Cato, the male tribute from District 2
 * Isabelle Fuhrman - Clove, the female tribute from District 2
 * Ian Nelson - the male tribute from District 3.
 * Kalia Prescott - the female tribute from District 3.
 * Ethan Jamieson - the male tribute from District 4.
 * Tara Macken - the female tribute from District 4.
 * Chris Mark - the male tribute from District 5.
 * Jacqueline Emerson - Foxface, the female tribute from District 5.
 * Ashton Moio - the male tribute from District 6.
 * Kara Petersen - the female tribute from District 6.
 * Sam Ly - the male tribute from District 7.
 * Leigha Hancock - the female tribute from District 7.
 * Samuel Tan - the male tribute from District 8.
 * Mackenzie Lintz - the female tribute from District 8.
 * Imanol Yepez-Frias - the male tribute from District 9.
 * Annie Thurman - the female tribute from District 9.
 * Jeremy Marinas - the male tribute from District 10.
 * Dakota Hood - the female tribute from District 10.
 * Amandla Stenberg - Rue, Katniss' ally on the 74th Hunger Games, and the female tribute from District 11.
 * Dayo Okeniyi - Thresh, the male tribute from District 11.

Other characters

 * Liam Hemsworth - Gale Hawthorne, friend and hunting partner of Katniss.
 * Willow Shields - Primrose Everdeen, the younger sister of Katniss.
 * Paula Malcomson - Mrs. Everdeen, Katniss and Prim's mother.
 * Elizabeth Banks - Effie Trinket, escort of District 12 tributes, Katniss and Peeta.
 * Wes Bentley - Seneca Crane, Head Gamemaker of the Hunger Games.
 * Stanley Tucci - Caesar Flickerman, Interviewer for the Hunger Games.
 * Woody Harrelson - Haymitch Abernathy, former Hunger Games victor and Katniss' and Peeta's mentor.
 * Latarsha Rose - Portia, stylist of Peeta and partner of Cinna.
 * Brooke Bundy - Octavia, member of Katniss' prep team.
 * Lenny Kravitz - Cinna, sylist of Katniss and partner of Portia.
 * Toby Jones - Claudius Templesmith, arena announcer for the games.
 * Amber Chaney - Lavinia, the redheaded Avox girl.
 * Kimiko Gelman - Venia, member of Katniss' prep team.
 * Nelson Ascencio - Flavius, member of Katniss' prep team.
 * Donald Sutherland - President Snow, the cruel and oppressive ruler of Panem.
 * Tim Taylor - Gamemaker, designer and controler of the Hunger Games.