The Hunger Games: will Hollywood's teen film break box office records? Unlike Twilight, the vampire franchise aimed predominantly at teenage girls, The Hunger Games also appeals to young male readers. And while the Twilight saga was aimed at young adults and featured a female character in the lead, the comparisons end there. The setting for The Hunger Games is a dystopian North America in which 24 teenagers are selected to take part in a macabre contest that leaves only one victor standing. Collins drew on Greek mythology and Roman gladiatorial battles for her ideas, as well as the modern obsession with reality television. Jennifer Lawrence, the 21-year-old actress, is the feisty heroine in the screen adaptation. She plays Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old who volunteers to enter the games in her younger sister's place. Zygi Kanasa, CEO of Lionsgate UK, believes Katniss is a strong role model for girls, unlike Bella in the Twilight saga. Katniss really is a true, modern heroine. She's much more than the victim that Bella is," said Kanasa. Lawrence was Oscar-nominated for her role in Winter's Bone, the 2010 independent drama, but The Hunger Games is her highest profile film to date. Kanasa said: "Gary Ross [the director] saw an awful lot of actresses but Jennifer blew everyone away. She is in every scene. It's all about her. And she gives the most brilliant performance as we follow her journey all the way through to the end. Kanasa conceded that violence plays a part in the story but said it is suitable for 12-year-olds and above, although readers of the book tend to be aged 14 and over. He said: "It is quite graphic but the story really does have a moral underpinning. The books have proved hugely popular because they have the adults in society as the bad guys, not the teenagers.