Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone, upcoming X-Men: First Class), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) and Abigail Breslin are all contenders for the lead role of Katniss Everdeen in Lionsgate’s adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, reports Variety.
The trade says that Lawrence (pictured left) has generated the most interest from producers, though no offer has been made. Age is said to be an important factor as the character is described as a woman between 15 and 20. Lawrence is 20 while Steinfeld and Breslin are both 14.
In The Hunger Games, a dystopic Capitol requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl who are forced to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. When Katniss Everdeen’s little sister is chosen in the lottery, 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.
Gary Ross will direct the March 23, 2012 release from a script by Billy Ray.
