We have just contacted Lionsgate, the studio behind the upcoming adaptation of The Hunger Games, and they have confirmed that Suzanne Collins' trilogy of novels will be broken into four movies.  We have no further details on how the novels will be divided, but judging by the recent splits to the final chapters of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, it might be safe to assume that the final book in the series, Mockingjay, will be broken into two parts.  While breaking books into multiple movies is certainly an attempt to rake in more cash, it's also prolongs the magic a little bit longer for fans.  While I had heavily chastised Warner Bros' decision to break Deathly Hallows into two movies, I had to admit that after I saw Part 1 last November, I was grateful that there was a little more Harry Potter in the not-too-distant future.  That being said, when it comes to Mockingjay, I've heard it's the weakest in the Hunger Games trilogy.

The first film, The Hunger Games, stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Wes Bentley, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Donald Sutherland, and Woody Harrelson.  It will hit theaters on March 23, 2012.  Hit the jump for the synopsis.

Here's the synopsis for The Hunger Games:

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.

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