"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" cast hits Hollywood for premiere

The heat was on in Hollywood on Monday night as the cast of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" assembled for the film's Los Angeles premiere.

She was joined at the event by co-stars Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone and Philip Seymour Hoffman, among others.

Director Francis Lawrence (no relation to the film's Oscar-winning star) said on the red carpet that the film is "really emotional."

"I think it's really thrilling, I think it's intense," he told KCAL9's Susana Marques. "I think it's really the first time in these stories where the themes really, really start to kick in and you really start to see the damage to the characters from having been in the Games."

The event also brought out celebrities like Jaden and Willow Smith, Joe Jonas, Ashlee Simpson and Kylie Jenner.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," based on the second book in Suzanne Collins' bestselling series, follows Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) after she and Peeta (Hutcherson) win the 74th annual Hunger Games. They become targets of the Capitol after their victory sparks rebellion in Panem's districts, and soon find themselves back in the arena once again.

The film, which had a world premiere in London last week, opens in theaters on Friday.

Tell us: Will you see "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"?