The Hunger Games (film)

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"May the odds be ever in your favor."

- Official tagline

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

Synopsis
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

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 initially adapted the novel for film herself, with rewriting by Billy Ray. However, the first draft of the script was replaced by one written by Collins and director Gary Ross. When asked for his thoughts on his script being replaced, Ray said, "I don't have any." From an initial $60 million, the budget for the film was increased to $75 million. then to $100 million.

On May 18, 2011, Entertainment Weekly revealed on their cover the first photo of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The first teaser trailer was revealed during the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. Lawrence presented the teaser through a pre-recorded video, as she wasn't able to attend the event due to filming.

The official trailer was released on November 14, 2011.

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 female tribute from District 11.
 * Dayo Okeniyi - Thresh, the male tribute from District 11.

Other characters

 * Liam Hemsworth - Gale Hawthorne, best friend, tentative love interest 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 74th 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, Peeta's stylist and Cinna's partner.
 * Brooke Bundy - Octavia, member of Katniss' prep team.
 * Lenny Kravitz - Cinna, Katniss' stylist and Portia's partner.
 * 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.

Music
Danny Elfman and T Bone Burnett are to collaborate in composing the film's score but Elfman dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflict. James Newton Howard is set to fill in as the composer Burnett will serve as the film's executive music producer.

Universal Republic will release the soundtrack besides songs that are directly influenced by the theme of the film like freedom, rebellion, survival and family. Glen Hansard will also be featured in the film's soundtrack, with a song he wrote from Katniss Everdeen's perspective. In addition to Burnett, Howard and Hansard, Michael Nielsen also contributes to the film's music with Mercury, which is used for the first teaser trailer. Country singer Taylor Swift is also on board on the soundtrack with Safe and Sound featuring the two-time Grammy nominated duo The Civil Wars.

Differences from the novel

 * In the film, the infamous Mockingjay pin is given to Katniss by Prim, while in the book, it is given to her by Madge Undersee.
 * Haymitch's hair, while described as Seam-style black in the book, is blond in the movie.
 * Several of the direct lines from the book are changed but they still bear similar meanings
 * Effie Trinket's reaping suit, described as spring green in the book, is pink in the movie.
 * In the book, Cinna was described with gold eyeliner on. In the film's trailer, it is seen he has no eyeliner on.
 * In the book, every tributes' uniform was the same. However, in the film, all 24 tributes were wearing different-colored jackets, possibly to distinguish the tributes from every district.
 * In the book, Katniss mentions in the Training Center that she and Peeta were the only ones wearing the same outfit, while in the movie, every tribute wore the same uniform.
 * The night before the Games, Peeta's hands are bandaged from Katniss's reaction after the interviews. In the film, however, his hands are obviously fine.
 * In the book, Katniss states that the hovercraft arrive soundlessly while in the film, one is seen arriving noisily in the forest in District 12.

Sequel
A sequel for the currently unrealeased film has been announced.