The Hunger Games set to hit Super Bowl 2012 | Preview

A bunch of guys facing off on a field in a televised battle, vying for a trophy and some rings? They ain't got nothin' on the kids from Panem. Because after those 24 warriors (a dozen boys and a dozen girls, ages 12–18) enter the arena, only one comes out alive—while a whole nation watches them fight. And the stakes aren't just to save their own life; they're also fighting to win a year's worth of plentiful food for all the citizens of their impoverished home district.

That's the chilling premise of The Hunger Games, the dystopian sci-fi mega seller by Suzanne Collins, the first book in a trilogy. With the big-screen adaptation seven weeks away from cinemas nationwide, the buzz machine is just about to kick in with full force. There's an ever-growing circle of fans—the first book is popping back up on bestseller lists—as people anticipate the film. In our recent survey of Chicago-area tweens, 35 percent told us they'd be camping out to see the film when it opens March 23. But for those still unfamiliar with the novels, what better way to get word out about this blockbuster-to-be than with a Super Bowl commercial? After all, the TV ads are as much as draw as the game or the halftime show.

The smartly timed, 71-second trailer will air sometime during the big game this Sunday. Watch it below, featuring Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role of heroine Katniss Everdeen. If that doesn't sate your appetite, check out our interview with Amandla Stenberg, who plays the pivotal supporting role of Rue. And if the thought of teens fighting to the death for televised entertainment leaves you longing for something soft and cuddly, check out our preview of another Sunday matchup: Puppy Bowl VIII. All those pictures of puppies, kittens and piglets? Totally adorbs.