In a recent interview, Suzanne Collins gave readers a peek at the process of adapting The Hunger Games for the screen–recognizing that changes are usually a necessary evil in the adaptation process.

Shelf-Life offered this quote from Collins who recently undertook the script-writing process: “Obviously, you have to let things go, but it’s more than a question of condensation. You want to preserve the essence while making the film stand on its own. It’s an art in itself.”

After Collins wrote the first draft for The Hunger Games script, screenwriter Billy Ray took over for revisions. Before she wrote books full-time, she worked as a writer for children’s television shows on Nickelodeon.

The first Hunger Games‘ film adaptation will have a budget of $60 million. The question now becomes: ‘Is that enough?’

Shelf-Life observed that the first Twilight movie cost $37 million to produce. They noted that most of the book is set in the Hunger Games arena–which is primarily forest and won’t require a huge special effects budget. Shelf Life decided:  “So basically, we’re looking at a movie that’s 75% The New World, 15% October Sky, and a mere 10% Blade Runner. $60 million sounds about right!”

What do you think? Below, we’ve listed the budgets for other literary adaptations of children’s book series to compare and contrast.

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When Suzanne Collins wrote the initial adaptation of The Hunger Games, screenwriter Billy Ray took over for revisions. Entertainment Weekly obtained an early copy of his now-completed script, comparing the script to the original.

Spoiler: It’s shaping up to be a PG-13 experience. The story features a battle royale between teenage players and the idea of minors acting out such violence is a concern. In fact, when you order the pictured box set the product description does say “Ages 12+.”

“‘It’s always going to be an intense subject matter, but you can tell the story with some restraint,’ said producer Nina Jacobson in the Entertainment Weekly article. ‘The only people these books are not for are those under 12. The movie will be the same.’”

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