Lionsgate today [4] confirmed reports that Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth have joined Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence its spring 2012 tentpole The Hunger Games, about an annual televised fight to the death between teenagers.

Hutcherson, one of the stars of last year’s independent hit and Oscar nominee The Kids Are All Right, will play Peeta Mellark, who accompanies the story’s heroine Katniss Everdeen on her deadly adventure.

Hemsworth, who starred in The Last Song, will play Gale Hawthorne. As previously announced, Lawrence will play Everdeen in the story, set in a dystopian future.

Gary Ross is directing from Suzanne Collins global bestseller. Nina Jacobson’s Color Force is producing alongside Jon Kilik. 

Lionsgate will release The Hunger Games on Mar 23, 2012.