A few new pics have been released by Entertainment Weekly for the hotly anticipated The Hunger Games. Currently filming in North Carolina, The Hunger Games is based on the first book in the wildly popular series by Suzanne Collins and stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne.

The plot summary from author Collins: “In a not-too-distant future, North America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 13 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 broadcast 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.”

Directed by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville), the cast also includes Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones and Wes Bentley among many others. The Hunger Games will be released March 23, 2012 in the UK, US & Canada.