The Hunger Games Casting

The Hunger Games Casting

Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of The Hunger Games are pleased to announce that actor Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) has been cast in the role of Peeta Mellark, with Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) joining the film in the role of Gale Hawthorne in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' worldwide smash hit novel. Both actors will star opposite Jennifer Lawrence, who it was recently announced will play heroine Katniss Everdeen.

The film will be directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force. Suzanne Collin's best-selling novel, which has over 3 million copies in print in the United States alone, is the first in a trilogy of science fiction/action novels which have developed a global following. Lionsgate will release 'The Hunger Games' on March 23rd, 2012.

Newcomer Jennifer Lawrence's meteoric ascent began in earnest with her breakout role in last year's 'Winter's Bone', and culminated in an Academy Award nomination. This summer, Jennifer Lawrence will star in Matt Vaughn's 'X Men: First Class' and in 'The Beaver' directed by Jodie Foster. Later this year, she co-stars in the Sundance Grand Jury winner 'Like Crazy'.

Author Suzanne Collins weighted in on the selection of Jennifer Lawrence, "Jennifer Lawrence's just an incredible actress. So powerful, vulnerable, beautiful, unforgiving and brave. I never though we'd find somebody this perfect for the role. And I can't wait for everyone to see her play it."

"I'm so excited to work with Jennifer Lawrence and see her bring this character to life. Katniss requires a young actress with strength, depth, complexity, tenderness and power. There are very few people alive who can bring that to a role. Jennifer Lawrence brings it in spades. She's going to be an amazing Katniss," said director, Gary Ross.

The Hunger Games chronicles a dystopic Capitol which requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute to the form of a teenage boy and girl, forced to participate in the annual 'Hunger Games', a fight-to-the-death live televised event. Katniss Everdeen's little sister is chosen in the lottery to participate and Katniss volunteers to take her place. Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home. The Hunger Games novel has been on the New York Times best seller list for over 100 consecutive weeks. Foreign rights for the book, published by Scholastic have been sold in 41 countries.

Peeta accompanies heroine Katniss Everdeen into the 74th annual Hunger Games as the male tribute chosen from their native District 12, the most remote and marginalized district of all the subjugated districts of Panem. At the outset of the Games, Peeta publicly confesses his longtime feelings for Katniss, setting up one of the most fascinating fictional rapports of all time with his supposed arena rival.

Though Katniss and Gale have never had a romantic relationship, they share a transcendent bond, often of few words. When Katniss volunteers to participate in the 74th Annual Hunger Games in her younger sister's stead, they both presume that bond will carry her far through the horrors she will face in the arena, and they each silently hope they'll be reunited in safety on the other side of the ordeal.

Photo Credit: Pamela Littky