TORONTO - Hundreds of fans lined downtown streets Monday as the photogenic stars of "The Hunger Games" hit the city for a blitz of interviews and a red carpet premiere of the buzzed-about post-apocalyptic film.
Devotees said they began lining up a full 10 hours ahead of a scheduled MuchMusic appearance by co-stars Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Vancouver-born Alexander Ludwig, with an enthusiastic crowd of mostly teenage girls numbering in the several hundred by mid-afternoon.
"It really makes it all worth it when you get to go out and meet up with people who are so passionate about the project," Hutcherson said in an interview before greeting the throng.
"In the past my experience with Canadian fans has been great -- they've always seemed to be very excited and very gung-ho."
Several enthusiastic fans gathered outside MuchMusic headquarters holding posters, wearing decorated T-shirts and brandishing copies of the young adult book series that spawned the burgeoning movie franchise.
Based on the bestselling dystopian teen novel by Suzanne Collins, "The Hunger Games" stars Jennifer Lawrence as heroic teenager Katniss Everdeen, a skilled hunter who is forced to take part in an annual televised battle in which children must fight to the death.
Hutcherson plays her rival and suitor Peeta, while Hemsworth has the part of her love interest Gale and Ludwig portrays the villainous Cato.
Eighteen-year-old Merna Jibrail said she arrived at 7 a.m. with two friends and was determined to meet the hunky Hemsworth, but also to not "freak out."
"We don't want to be like one of those crazy fans that just attacks them, we want to ask them how they are and everything," said Jibrail, nevertheless admitting that emotions were bubbling over.
"I really, really, really want to meet Liam Hemsworth -- I've loved him since 2009."
Her friend Kirsi Parnoja, 20, said it was important that the film version maintained the violence that pervades the book and hoped it was faithful to its dark tones.
She said she was there to see Hutcherson.
"Well, I'm 20 now and I've been his fan for probably 12 years since he was in 'Motocross Kids' (and) 'Bridge to Terabithia,"' said Parnoja.
The pals, also accompanied by 17-year-old Peeta fan Michael Dow, said they clamoured for whatever special access they could get to the stars through a myriad of contests advertised on radio, Facebook, Twitter and television.
The movie's savvy marketing campaign has involved a hefty dose of online social media tools in particular, and stretches back as far as one year with Lionsgate stoking the flames for what it hopes will be a four-film franchise.
Ludwig said he's been blown away by the enthusiasm of "The Hunger Games" followers, whose devotion is drawing comparisons to that other blockbuster book-to-film franchise, "Twilight."
"The fandemonium and the phenomenon of the film has just been getting nuts and it's been just like surreal," Ludwig said during his brief stop in Toronto with castmates.
"I don't even know how to describe it -- one day I'm auditioning for this movie called 'The Hunger Games' (and) I had just read these amazing books and loved them and next thing I know there's fans waiting outside your hotel room."
Ludwig, who will also attend a sneak preview for select guests and contest winners in Vancouver on Wednesday, said he's been surprised by the lengths some fans will go to meet the cast.
While filming in North Carolina, the 19-year-old noted that one devotee managed to track down the hotel where cast members were staying by carefully studying a photograph of them in an unidentified locale.
"It was just us and this carpet and he went to every single hotel in the city to find that carpet and he found the carpet and he found out where we were staying," he says incredulously.
"I was like, 'All right, I will sign whatever you want."'
"That was definitely impressive."
Advance screenings are also taking place in Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Halifax and Victoria on Thursday.
Ludwig said he's blown away by the "roller-coaster" ride he finds himself on and appreciated all the enthusiasm.
"It's nothing but flattering and amazing."
"The Hunger Games" opens wide on Friday.
