Filming has not long since begun on The Hunger Games but it is already a movie that is causing a lot of excitement as the popular novel is being brought to the big screen.

Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence takes on the central role of Katniss Everdeen in the Gary Ross directed movie.

She is joined on the cast list by Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth as they star as Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne.

Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Ticci and Donald Sutherland are all on the cast list.

In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts.

Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games.

Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch.

When 16-year-old Katniss’ young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district’s female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place.

She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.

The Hunger Games is released 23rd March 2012. Take a look at the first poster for the movie: