Jennifer Lawrence: 'Katniss is like Ripley'

Jennifer Lawrence has claimed that Sigourney Weaver will be one of her main inspirations when she begins work on the upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' popular teen trilogy The Hunger Games.

Earlier this week Lawrence was cast as the film's young heroine Katniss Everdeen.

Lawrence cited Weaver's iconic action hero Ripley from the Alien franchise as a point of comparison for how she intends to approach the character.

"Signourney Weaver's Ripley in Alien is the first [film] that comes to mind," Lawrence told EW.

The actress, who has proven a controversial casting choice with fans of the novel due to both her age and natural blonde hair colour, insisted that she is aware of the pressure she faces.

"I have a huge responsibility to the fans of this incredible book, and I don't take it lightly," Lawrence added. "I will give everything I have to these movies and to this role to make it worthy of Suzanne Collins' masterpiece."

Despite his controversial choice of actress, director Gary Ross recently claimed that signing up Lawrence was "the easiest casting decision I ever made in my life".

The Hunger Games is tentatively set for release in 2012.

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