Variety are reporting that actress Jennifer Lawrence [Winters Bone] is very close to signing on the dotted line for Gary Ross' adaptation of Suzanne Collins Sci-Fi novel: The Hunger Games, Lawrence is set to play the leading role of "Katniss." The book tells the tale of a dystopic future and the annual "Hunger Games," where teenagers are pitted against one another in gladiator-like contests in a fight to the death on live television. Lionsgate are hoping the film will spark a franchise. The actress is set to appear as "Mystique" in X-Men: First Class. The Hunger Games will hit theaters March 23, 2012. Billy Ray wrote the screenplay. Nina Jacobson, Jim Miller and Alli Shearmur are producing.
