Elizabeth Banks is in talks to join the cast of “The Hunger Games” as Effie Trinket, according to Variety. Banks would join a cast that already includes Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and just announced newbies Amandla Stenberg and Dayo Okeniyi in the Gary Ross adaptation of Suzanne Collins‘ best-selling teen novels.

In the film, revolving around 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen and her attempt to be the sole survivor/victor in the annual Hunger Games which pits 24 children against each other in a fight to the death in front of a nationwide audience, Effie Trinket is the uptight and manically perky chaperone who leads Katniss and Peeta through the process of transforming from poverty stricken residents of District 12 into camera-ready Tributes.

Banks appears to be the most perfect casting on the film thus far, having shown time and again her dramatic chops and quick-witted comedic timing, even having played an uptight/perky character once or twice already. She recently completed filming “Man on a Ledge” opposite Sam Worthington and “Welcome to People” opposite Chris Pine, and is known for a wide array of films including “Definitely, Maybe”, “W” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” and her current recurring role on “30 Rock”.

“The Hunger Games” begins filming in North Carolina on May 23rd for a March 23, 2012 release.