THE HUNGER GAMES to Surpass TWILIGHT?

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is "tracking" on a par with the Twilight movies, according to "a set of tracking numbers floating around Hollywood," as per EW.com. Who, where, what, how came up with those "tracking numbers" was not explained in the article.

EW.com adds that "some forecasts" predict The Hunger Games will open with $70-75 million, which, in terms of ticket sales, would place it slightly behind the first Twilight. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, and starring the then little-known Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, Twilight opened with $69.6 million in fall 2008 — approx. $77 million today.

Also worth noting, a week ago Fandango reported that The Hunger Games generated 83% of the site’s sales on Feb. 22, the day tickets for the movie became available — thus breaking the previous record held by David Slade’s The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in May 2010.

As part of the Hunger Games publicity blitz, the film’s Facebook page has posted a letter from author and co-screenwriter Suzanne Collins in which she claims to be "really happy" with the movie adaptation of her dystopic sci-fi/adventure novel. See below:

I’ve just had the opportunity to see the finished film of The Hunger Games. I’m really happy with how it turned out. I feel like the book and the film are individual yet complementary pieces that enhance one another. The film opens up the world beyond Katniss’ point of view, allowing the audience access to the happenings of places like the Hunger Games control room and President Snow’s rose garden, thereby adding a new dimension to the story.

Director Gary Ross has created an adaptation that is faithful in both narrative and theme, but he’s also brought a rich and powerful vision of Panem, its brutality and excesses, to the film as well. His world building’s fantastic, whether it be the Seam or the Capitol. It’s amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.

And, my God, the actors. The cast, led by the extraordinary Jennifer Lawrence, is absolutely wonderful across the board. It’s such a pleasure to see how they’ve embodied the characters and brought them to life.

So I’d like to sincerely thank all the many people who devoted their time and talents to the film, especially producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik, and the excellent teams at Color Force, Larger Than Life, and Lionsgate.

In addition to Jennifer Lawrence, a 2010 Best Actress Academy Award nominee for Debra Granik’s Winter’s Bone, The Hunger Games also features The Kids Are All Right / Journey 2: The Mysterious Island’s Josh Hutcherson, Movie 43 / Man on a Ledge’s Elizabeth Banks, Rampart’s Woody Harrelson, The Expendables 2 / AWOL / The Last Song’s Liam Hemsworth, and Salvation Boulevard / The Healer’s Isabelle Fuhrman. Also in the cast: Wes Bentley, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, and Lenny Kravitz.

Gary Ross’ two previous efforts as a feature-film director were Best Picture (but not Best Director) Oscar nominee Seabiscuit (2003) and Pleasantville (1998). Lionsgate — which, coincidentally, recently acquired/merged with Twilight’s distributor Summit Entertainment — will release The Hunger Games on March 23.

Jennifer Lawrence / The Hunger Games photo: Murray Close / Lionsgate.