Suzanne Collins talks about The Hunger Games

On March 23rd THE HUNGER GAMES will be released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland, giving fans of Suzanne Collin’s bestselling novel of the same name a chance to see their hero Katniss Everdeen on the big screen for the first time.

THE HUNGER GAMES has already broken the record for most first-day sales from online ticketing service Fandango in the US. Tickets went on sale a month before release and the first-day ticket sales on Wednesday, February 22 broke the previous first day advance ticket-seller record held by "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" on Friday, May 14, 2010. "'The Hunger Games' is off to a fantastic start," commented Rick Butler, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Fandango. "We saw the biggest first day advance ticketing sales in our company's nearly 12-year history - which is especially impressive for a March release and a non-sequel."

Coinciding with such strong news, yesterday author Suzanne Collins addressed her fans on facebook after seeing the film for the first time:

“Dear Readers,

I’ve just had the opportunity to see the finished film of The Hunger Games. I’m really happy with how it turned out. I feel like the book and the film are individual yet complementary pieces that enhance one another. The film opens up the world beyond Katniss’ point of view, allowing the audience access to the happenings of places… like the Hunger Games control room and President Snow’s rose garden, thereby adding a new dimension to the story.

Director Gary Ross has created an adaptation that is faithful in both narrative and theme, but he’s also brought a rich and powerful vision of Panem, its brutality and excesses, to the film as well. His world building’s fantastic, whether it be the Seam or the Capitol. It’s amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.

And, my God, the actors. The cast, led by the extraordinary Jennifer Lawrence, is absolutely wonderful across the board. It’s such a pleasure to see how they’ve embodied the characters and brought them to life.

So I’d like to sincerely thank all the many people who devoted their time and talents to the film, especially producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik, and the excellent teams at Color Force, Larger Than Life, and Lionsgate.

I hope you enjoy the film!
Suzanne Collins”

This week The European Premiere of THE HUNGER GAMES was announced to take place on Wednesday 14th March at the Cineworld Cinema at the O2 arena following its world premiere in Los Angeles on March 12th. Director Gary Ross will present his stellar cast Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Elizabeth Banks to UK fans on this date.

UK fans will have the opportunity to book tickets across all cinema chains from March 9th, 2012. Further details will follow.

THE HUNGER GAMES will be released in cinemas on March 23rd.
www.thehungergames.co.uk ~ www.facebook.com/thehungergamesuk

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen volunteers in her younger sister’s place to enter the games, and is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy when she’s pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives. 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.