Back in Novermber, director Gary Ross (Pleasantville, The Crusaders) was confirmed to direct the big-screen adaptation of the first novel in Suzanne Collins‘ best selling trilogy, The Hunger Games. While the books are fairly violent, and a faithful adaptation could easily garner an R rating, we brought you Ross’ explanation just last month about why he feels the movies need to be rated PG-13.

Now, what all fans of The Hunger Games have been waiting for… Lionsgate has officially announced the release date for the film about Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl who is forced to represent her region in the annual Hunger Games event, where participants must fight to the death. In this futuristic world, traditional government has gone by the wayside and America is split into 12 regions, each of which must send young boys and girls to this deadly battle each year.

There haven’t been any casting announcements as of yet but, THR reports that production on The Hunger Games will begin in late spring or early summer this year, and the film will be released on March 23rd, 2012.