The basic premise behind The Hunger Games is a fight to the death between 24 kids (ages 12-18) -- two "tributes" selected from each of the 12 districts of Panem, the dictatorship of the future.  Lionsgate has spent the last month steadily rolling out the young cast that will play the kids, saving two of the most important tributes for today's final announcement.  You can gauge their relative importance by their names -- known not as "Tribute Boy" and "Tribute Girl," but rather as Cato and Clove of District 2.  Alexander Ludwig (Race to Witch Mountain) will play Cato, Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan) will play Clove.  I can't speak for Ludwig's talent, but the Fuhrman casting is excellent.  She wowed us all in Orphan in 2009, but  screen credits since have been minimal (The Cleveland Show?).  Fuhrman is perfect for Clove, who is great with a knife and, um... not very nice.Virtually all of the principal roles are filled: Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch, Liam Hemsworth as Gale, Wes Bentley as Seneca Crane, Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket, Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman, Willow Shields as Primrose, and Paula Malcomson as Mrs. Everdeen.  Find a Cinna (perhaps Lenny Kravitz?) and a President Snow, and you're pretty much set.  Director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) ought to begin production soon to make the planned March 23, 2012 release date.  Hit the jump for the official synopsis the full tribute casting rundown.This neat graphic is just the static version of the presentation over at the official Hunger Games Facebook page.  Click on the image to match each actor to their district.Click here for all our Hunger Games coverage.  What follows is the official synopsis:

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

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy.  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.