Lionsgate has sent out a press release announcing that newcomer Willow Shields has landed the role of Primrose Everdeen in Gary Ross' adaptation of The Hunger Games.  Primrose is the younger sister of protagonist Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawerence).  When Primrose is selected to fight as one of District 12's tributes in the deadly Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place.  Said Ross of casting Shields, "It's so exciting to find an amazing young actress like the one we just met.  Prim is an emotionally demanding role and in many ways she is the cornerstone of the story.  Willow Shields will make an amazing Prim and we’re very lucky to have her."

The film also stars Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Dayo Okeniyi, Amandla Stenberg, Jack Quaid, Leven Rambin, and possibly Elizabeth Banks.  Hit the jump for the official synopsis.  The Hunger Games is set to open on March 23, 2012.

Here's the official synopsis for The Hunger Games:

The Hunger Games is a worldwide fan phenomenon, the novel having been on the New York Times best seller list for over 130 consecutive weeks. The film chronicles Katniss Everdeen’s defiant struggle to survive in a future dystopia where The Capitol requires its twelve subjugated districts to atone for their onetime insurrection through the annual “Hunger Games,” a fight-to-the-death event held in a fantastical man made arena.  Although persevering through extreme hardship is commonplace for the audacious heroine, she is forced to make choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home to District 12.

THE HUNGER GAMES will be directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik.  Collins’ best-selling novel, which has over 3 million copies in print in the United States alone, is the first in a trilogy of science fiction/action novels which have developed a global following.

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