What could be the next epic trilogy or teen crazed Twilight-like fad, The Hunger Games movie is looking to be a little something of both. The book trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins, and adapted by Gary Ross is set to the tone of a post-apocalyptic world formerly known as North America. Twelve districts annually send out teenagers to fight in a televised battle where only one can survive. Lionsgate has released eight new character posters introducing you to the main cast. Young and old, the cast looks spritely and you can check out all eight posters after the jump.

Now I’ve never read the books (I’ve been meaning too), but I really dig the concept and the idea. The thing about the movie is, that nudges my brain to think that it might swing over to a Twilightesque movement is the cast. It has a lot of young attractive teens and up and comers who are going to have the spotlight of a huge best-selling novel on their shoulders. (The first teaser trailer also debuted during the MTV music video awards; I have also not watched this teaser yet nor do I plan to watch any trailers for this movie.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecmP1nrPk2I

A lot of the cast I’m alright with. Woody Harrelson as the drunk mentor is a pretty obvious and great choice. Elizabeth Banks has shown her acting prowess in many of film ranging from comedy, horror, and drama. Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) has shown true potential for his future and Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone; X-Men: First Class) has proven to be an incredible actress.

My gut just hopes that this one be a big teen-fad movie. I can stand the Harry Potter crazy. I can see that because the movies introduce an amazing world and the books are fantastic. Everything I’ve heard about Suzanna Collins’ The Hunger Games has been great, so I can’t see this sucking as hard as Twilight and their nonsensical fans.

Click on the images to enlarge (ComingSoon.Net):

The posters themselves aren’t anything special. We’ve all seen floating heads and side poses before with just a logo as a teaser. I suspect these are just more for the fans of the books to get them excited as they flesh out the characters into real-life beings out from the pages.  I will just have to read the books before March 2012 to see what all the hubbub is all about.

Plot synopsis via Apple Trailers:

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. THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, with a screenplay by Gary Ross and Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel, the first in a trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 12 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following. It has spent more than 157 consecutive weeks/more than three consecutive years to date on The New York Times bestseller list since its publication in September 2008, and has also appeared consistently on USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists.

The Hungers Games releases March 23, 2012.