'The Hunger Games': Josh Hutcherson & Liam Hemsworth As Peeta Mellark & Gale Hawthorne (PHOTO)

Back in May, Jennifer Lawrence's gritty, brown-haired look as Katniss Everdeen, main protagonist of "The Hunger Games," was revealed on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Now, it's time for her male counterparts to get the front page treatment.

Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth tough up the newest issue of EW, in their Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne garb, respectively. They're the friends and co-warriors with Katniss in the ruthless battle royale from which the books -- written by Suzanne Collins -- and Gary Ross-directed films get their names.

The hit novel trilogy's big screen adaptation will also feature Elizabeth Banks as her guide Elfie Trinket, Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman, Donald Sutherland as President Snow and Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy.

Last week, the flaming motion poster for the film was revealed.

For some great quotes and info on the characters, click over to Entertainment Weekly.

PHOTO:

Comments

[Reman Remy Abuali]

11:56 AM on 08/06/2011

They clearly should have switched the characters. Making Peeta, Liam and Gale, Josh. It would have been PERFECT if that were to happen. I don't understand why they did that. really.

[Marisa Stein]

07:33 AM on 07/29/2011

Oh god no, this is the worst idea ever..good luck trying to turn this into a hit

[eskeeemo]

04:46 PM on 07/28/2011

Yawn.... another overhyped movie based on books for teenagers. This adult is bored already.

[SILVANUS]

04:40 PM on 07/28/2011

They look from the same factory as everyone else in Hellwood these days.

[KDMac]

03:06 PM on 07/28/2011

Wow, that kid on the right surely has matured....

[webcrawler]

07:56 PM on 07/28/2011

Hasn't he? I always thought he was a great little actor.

[lexingtonKY]

11:34 AM on 07/28/2011

Liam is the one on the left, didn't he once date Miley Cyrus?

[sydney01]

09:33 AM on 07/28/2011

I think the casting is perfect. Jennifer knows how to skin a squirrel, and Josh is the type you fall in love with because he seems like such a "good" guy.

[whowhatwhywherewhen]

09:06 AM on 07/28/2011

I love how everyone keeps knocking the casting of this movie when Suzanne Collins was part of the entire process - including casting. If she wrote the series, envisions these actors playing HER characters...then, relax and go along for the ride.

If you have different ideas, then YOU right a book and make a movie out if it.

[whowhatwhywherewhen]

09:29 AM on 07/28/2011

"write"

[sabrinatee]

03:01 AM on 07/28/2011

Hutcherson is 19; Hemsworth is 21. They just look old in this photo. Actually, I'm surprised they cast such young actors - usually Hollywood tries to get away with casting 28-year-olds as teens (see: Glee).

However, I still think the casting is off, for everyone.

[Lisa Sansone]

02:37 AM on 07/28/2011

To be honest, if I hadn't read the blurb which identified the actors with the characters, I would have assumed the guy on the left was Peeta, and the guy on the right, Gale.

[cmorrison10]

11:10 AM on 07/28/2011

I guess you didn't read the book, because Peeta is blond and Gale is dark haired.

[desertwillow]

01:25 AM on 07/28/2011

Meh. I was underwhelmed when I first heard the casting news. I came around a little on Jennifer Lawrence on her EW cover - I thought she ended up looking pretty spot-on as Katniss. Not so with this cover, especially Helmsworth. I expected Gale to be more handsome and Peeta to be more clean-cut and boyish and I expected them both to look more soulful and less squinty-feigning-tough-guyness. I'm a big fan of the books and I'll see the movie, but I'm not really excited about it. The best casting news I've heard was Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman, but that's really a minor role.

And for those who are seeing this as another Twilight-like love triangle rehash - I strongly suggest you read the books. The love triangle is a subplot and not as much of the focus of the series as you'd think. There much more interesting themes in this series and Katniss is one of the most interesting female characters I've read in years.

[MissingAmerica]

12:30 AM on 07/28/2011

Josh Henderson at first glance immediately brought up the memory of Jon Erik Hexum! That said, I wish these two young men great success but am kind of hoping it's not in this. So tired of the spate of post-apocalyptic, vampire, slasher, monster stuff. Would love to see both these guys in something a bit more pleasant! But, that's just me!

[chiara0]

10:08 PM on 07/27/2011

Still waitin' for the hunks....

[PrestonHymas]

09:58 PM on 07/27/2011

Wow, these two look nothing like how I imagined the characters. How old are these guys? They look like they're in their late 20s

[ellawensmom]

10:23 PM on 07/27/2011

I kind of agree with you. I pictured these two differently, but maybe everyone else is happy.

[Aitch5]

07:35 PM on 07/27/2011

Liam Hemsworth's bro is 1000x better looking.