Just a couple of weeks ago, Lionsgate has announced that Josh Hutcherson (Red Dawn) and Liam Hemsworth (Arabian Nights) had joined Jennifer Lawrence in the Gary Ross (Pleasantville) directed big-screen adaptation of the first novel in Suzanne Collins‘ best selling trilogy, The Hunger Games.

Now, Variety reports that Elizabeth Banks (Man on a Ledge, Welcome to People) has joined the cast as well, and will be portraying Effie Trinket. In addition to Banks, Lionsgate has announced that Dayo Okeniyi (Slew Hampshire) and Amandla Stenberg (Falling Skies) will play Thresh and Rue respectively.

Banks character, Effie Trinket is a chaperone for the 12th District, where Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) are from. Okeniyi and Stenberg’s Rue and Thresh are “tributes” from District 11. The Hunger Games revolves around a boy and girl “tribute” chosen from each of America’s 12 districts, who are forced to compete to the death in a nationally-televised event known as The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games is slated to hit theaters on March 23rd, 2012.