Stanley Tucci cast in 'The Hunger Games'

This post has been corrected. See the note below for details.

Stanley Tucci will be joining Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson in the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games."

Tucci will play Caesar Flickerman, the upbeat host of the Hunger Games, a twisted entertainment spectacle that pits teenage boys and girls against one another and is televised for all of North America to see.

Tucci appeared in "The Devil Wears Prada," "Julie & Julia" and recently in "Burlesque."  He is generally a character actor long known for his good-guy roles, but his startling performance as a pedophile/killer in  "The Lovely Bones" earned him a best supporting actor Oscar nomination last year.

He'll be playing Abraham Erskine in this summer's superhero flick "Captain America: The First Avenger" starring Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Dominic Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones.

Flickerman, Tucci's "Hunger Games" persona, is a smooth-talking character known for his "outrageous appearance and buoyant personality." The host conducts interviews with the 24 tributes -- boys and girls from each of the country's 12 districts -- that are presented on every television in the nation. 

"He is famous for turning any conversation around to the positive and finding humor in even the most dire circumstances," according to a statement from Lionsgate. 

We love Tucci in over-the-top roles, so we're excited to see how he fares in powder blue eyeshadow.

Last week, "American Beauty's" Wes Bentley was added to the cast as Seneca Crane, the head game-maker of the 74th annual Hunger Games.

The film, which goes into production this month, is due out March 23, 2012.

For the record, 3 p.m. May 8: This post originally said Tucci was nominated for an Oscar this year. In fact, Tucci was up for the Oscar at the 82nd Academy Awards in 2010.

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Photo: Stanley Tucci. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Elizabeth Banks lands 'Hunger Games' role: Effie Trinket

Thanks to "The Hunger Games," Elizabeth Banks ain't starving for work -- the "30 Rock" actress has landed a major part in the upcoming film adaptation of the hit book series.

"Yes! And I can now confirm I'm EFFIE TRINKET in @TheHungerGames," the actress tweeted on Thursday, joining Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson in the cast.

The Effie role, about which Miss Banks so excitedly screams in all caps, is described as an "insufferable" escort for participants in the novel's sport, which is a hunt for food in a cold and scary futuristic North America.

On "30 Rock," Banks has a recurring role as the wife of  Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy. She'll also be seen in this year's "My Idiot Brother" opposite Paul Rudd.

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Photo: Elizabeth Banks at the 2011 Vanity Fair Academy Awards post-party. Credit: Getty Images

Miley Cyrus rejoins Twitter for Charlie Sheen and Liam Hemsworth?

Miley Cyrus is back ... on Twitter, that is, crediting her return to none other than Charlie Sheen. Oh, and her fans too.

The teen star returned to the micro-blogging site on the heels of her favorite movie actress win at the Kids' Choice Awards in order to promote her upcoming Gypsy Heart World Tour.

"Yo guys! Its MC! Thank you so much for my KCA! =] PS I am taking over the Gypsy Heart twitter! Gotta keep ya posted on tour <3 come see me!" she wrote.

But soon after, Cyrus revealed the real reasons for her comeback.

"Do not fear...the Sheenius is here!" I'm not gonna lie. I came back to twitter for 2 reasons. My fans and to follow @charliesheen #winning," she tweeted Sunday. 

Perhaps she just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Hey, Miley, you're not missing much in terms of torpedoes of truth anyway.

The 18-year-old amassed thousands more followers via the Gypsy Tour account. She deleted her personal account in October 2009 for on-again-off-again boyfriend and "The Last Song" costar Liam Hemsworth.

Ironically, she tweeted props to Hemsworth for landing a role in the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "Hunger Games" with Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence.

"I can say the best news ever now! Dang word travels fast! Liam booked the role of Gale in Hunger Games! I gotta go read all the books now!" she wrote.

Cyrus was also quick to reply to fans and converse with other celebrities, including Kings of Leon bassist Jared Followill, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton and Jaden Smith, who is teaming up with papa Will Smith in an M. Night Shyamalan-directed project.

It's a good thing salvia isn't as addictive as Twitter, we suppose.

Are you going to start following Miley now that she's back on Twitter? Let us know in comments.

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Photo: Miley Cyrus accepts the favorite movie actress award at the 24th annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles April 2, 2011. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Jennifer Lawrence 'perfect for the role' of Katniss, 'Hunger Games' author says

Looks as though Hollywood has an appetite for Jennifer Lawrence -- the Academy Award nominee has been cast in the coveted lead role for the film version of the hot book series "Hunger Games."

Author Suzanne Collins' trilogy will be adapted for the screen with Lawrence playing Katniss Everdeen. The script will follow Katniss in a "fight-to-the-death contest" set in a chilly, post-modern United States, according to our brother blog, Hero Complex.

Lawrence broke out in "Winter's Bone," for which she received the Oscar nod, and has maintained heat with quality red-carpet looks and her upcoming "X Men: First Class" gig.

Collins lavished praise on Lawrence on Thursday, saying in a statement, "Jennifer's just an incredible actress. So powerful, vulnerable, beautiful, unforgiving and brave.

"I never thought we'd find somebody this perfect for the role. And I can't wait for everyone to see her play it."

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Photo: Jennifer Lawrence at the 2011 Academy Awards. Credit: Jason Merritt / Getty Images