Hunger Games Wraps in North Carolina

One of many movies filmed in North Carolina, The Hunger Games recently wrapped and is set for release on March 23, 2012. The cast includes Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Liam Hemsworth as Gale, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. Locations for filming ranged from Dupont State Forest, an abandoned mill outside of Asheville in Hildebran, to uptown Charlotte and the old Phillip Morris Plant in Concord.

While in North Carolina, the stars discovered many local hangouts on location and enjoyed Cabo Fish Taco and Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen in Charlotte’s NoDa arts district and The Southern Kitchen and Bar in Asheville. Woody Harrelson was also spotted at the Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival in Asheville.

Based on the first book in The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the story takes place in Panem, a post-apocalyptic country that was once North America, and the annual Hunger Games are a government-mandated, nationally televised battle to the death.

A gripping book, certain to make for an action-packed movie, the highly-anticipated trailer below debuted to a captive audience at this year’s MTV Music Awards. The Hunger Games joins a long list of films shot in North Carolina, and if you’re a fan, who can’t wait for the movie, please share your story with us in the comment section. We’d love to hear your thoughts on its upcoming release!