From IGN:

A New Director for Hunger Games 2?

Gary Ross said to be in tough negotiations for Catching Fire.

April 4, 2012

The Hunger Games director Gary Ross is reportedly mired in some pretty thorny negotiations with Lionsgate about helming the sequel, Catching Fire, and making more money this time out.

Unlike his cast, Ross didn't have a contract for the sequel, and now that the film is a hit talks between Ross' camp and the studio are said to have come to a rough spot, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Rough enough that Lionsgate, the new owner of the Twilight franchise, may pull a Twilight-style switch and bring in a different director for the sequel.

As THR explains, "Lionsgate has a script from Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) that Ross has yet to revise. The studio is in a rush to start the next film in the fall, though Fox might upset Lionsgate's plan by exercising its option on [Hunger Games star Jennifer] Lawrence to start another X-Men movie first. (Fox's option would trump Lionsgate's hold on Lawrence, say sources.) Adding urgency: Lionsgate already has booked a November 2013 release for Hunger Games: Catching Fire."

THR's sources think a deal will probably be worked out eventually between Ross and Lionsgate, but not without a lot of hurt feelings. Still, if the Twilight and Harry Potter series have shown anything to the industry it's that changing directors doesn't hurt the sequels much at the box office.

Hutcherson Says He Couldn't Imagine Making Catching Fire Without Ross

Source: ComingSoon

April 10, 2012

Over the last week, there have been a lot of rumors stating that The Hunger Games director Gary Ross would not direct the sequel, Catching Fire. Yesterday we learned, however, that Ross was still meeting with Lionsgate to figure things out.

While Ross has not officially signed on for the follow-up to the film that has earned an impressive $463.7 million worldwide, ComingSoon.net talked to Josh Hutcherson today who says he couldn't imagine doing the next film without the filmmaker.

"There is not much doubt in my mind he'll be doing it. I think so. I don't think there's a chance he won't," Hutcherson told us. The actor, who plays Peeta, added: "He killed the first one, absolutely knocked it out of the park. Everyone loved him. Myself, Jennifer and the others loved him. I couldn't imagine making another movie without him, so that's what I have to say about that..." [smiles]

The studio's goal is to start shooting in August so that filming can be completed before Jennifer Lawrence has to start the X-Men: First Class sequel at Fox. That doesn't give Ross a lot of time for pre-production.

Catching Fire is scheduled for a November 22, 2013 release.

Gary Ross Officially Drops Out of The Hunger Games Sequel, Catching Fire

Source: ComingSoon

April 10, 2012

Just hours ago, The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson announced to ComingSoon.net his belief that writer/director Gary Ross would be returning to helm the sequel, Catching Fire.

"There is not much doubt in my mind he'll be doing it," he said. "I think so. I don't think there's a chance he won't. He killed the first one, absolutely knocked it out of the park. Everyone loved him. Myself, Jennifer and the others loved him. I couldn't imagine making another movie without him."

It comes as unfortunate news, then, that Ross has elected not to return to the hugely successfull franchise. Lionsgate has released the following statement from the director:

"Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct 'Catching Fire'. As a writer and a director, I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule.

I loved making 'The Hunger Games' – it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results. And contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic. They have also been very understanding of me through this difficult decision.

I also cannot say enough about the people I worked with: Producer Nina Jacobson, a great collaborator and a true friend; the brilliant Suzanne Collins, who entrusted us with her most amazing and important story; the gifted and remarkable Jennifer Lawrence whose performance exceeded my wildest expectations, and the rest of the incredible cast, whom I am proud to call my friends.

To the fans I want to say thank you for your support your faith, your enthusiasm and your trust. Hard as this may be to understand I am trying to keep that trust with you. Thank you all. It’s been a wonderful experience."

Lionsgate also issued the below statement of their own:

"We’re very sorry that Gary Ross has chosen not to direct 'Catching Fire'. We were really looking forward to making the movie with him. He did an incredible job on the first film and we are grateful for his work. This will not be the end of our relationship, as we consider Ross to be part of the Lionsgate family and look forward to working with him in the future."

Catching Fire is planned for a November 22, 2013 release. The search is no doubt on to locate a replacement director as soon as possible.

Not always a bad thing, but really stinks to hear. Hopefully they find someone very good very quickly. Wonder what David Yates is working on...

From IGN:

From I Am Legend to Hunger Games 2?

Francis Lawrence and Bennett Miller join Catching Fire helmer race.

April 17, 2012

Add two more names to the potential Catching Fire directors list: I Am Legend's Francis Lawrence and Moneyball's Bennett Miller.

The Playlist has the report on Miller and Lawrence, who join David Cronenberg, Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu as prospective helmers for Lionsgate's Hunger Games sequel.

The Great Catching Fire Director Hunt began when Hunger Games' Gary Ross recently decided not to return for the second film in the Katniss Everdeen saga.

In the case of Miller, the director does have his film Foxcatcher possibly gearing up for a fall production start. Just yesterday Mark Ruffalo was reported to be in talks to join that long-gestating project, but if Miller gets/takes the Catching Fire gig, he'll have to put Foxcatcher off again as production could possibly start on CF as early as August.

Lawrence on the other hand is said to have an open schedule right now and is hence ready to get going on Katniss Part Deux asap.

Francis Lawrence Offered The Hunger Games Sequel, Catching Fire

Source: ComingSoon

April 19, 2012

On the heels of the announcement earlier this month that writer/director Gary Ross will not be returning for The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire, ComingSoon.net has learned that Francis Lawrence has officially been offered the job.

Lawrence, who has not officially signed on as of yet and who still has to go through the negotiation process, most recently directed the period drama Water for Elephants for the screen. On television, Lawrence also helmed the pilot episode of the Kiefer Sutherland series "Touch" and just wrapped production on the pilot of the upcoming supernatural drama, "Gotham." His previous big screen efforts include I Am Legend and the comic book adaptation Constantine.

Catching Fire is currently planned for a November 22, 2013 release with Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland and Lenny Kravitz among those who are all expected to return for the franchise sequel.

Francis Lawrence Confirmed to Direct Catching Fire

Source: ComingSoon

May 3, 2012

Lionsgate confirmed today that Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine, Water for Elephants) will direct The Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire. Here is the official announcement:

LIONSGATE®, a leading global entertainment company, announced today that Francis Lawrence has officially signed on to direct CATCHING FIRE, the sequel to THE HUNGER GAMES, based on the second in a series of books by Suzanne Collins that has 36 million copies in circulation in the US alone. The announcement was made by Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group Co-Chairmen Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman.

Lawrence, who is represented by CAA and 3 Arts Entertainment, has experience directing films that make him uniquely suited to handle the blend of character driven drama and high stakes action of CATCHING FIRE; among them are I AM LEGEND, CONSTANTINE, and WATER FOR ELEPHANTS.

"Lionsgate, the cast, and filmmakers are all thrilled to have Francis Lawrence come on board as director of Catching Fire. Suzanne's brilliant book is the intense story of the birth of the rebellion and Katniss' emotionally charged journey as she takes on the mantle of the Mockingjay, and we all think Francis is the perfect director to bring the story to life," said Erik Feig, Lionsgate's President Of Production.

"From the very beginning of this brilliant trilogy's journey from page to screen, our first priority has been to stay true to the heart and soul of Suzanne Collins' powerful stories. From my first conversation with Francis, I knew he would make a great partner for both me and Suzanne. His passion for Catching Fire and inspired ideas for a faithful adaptation make him the perfect director for this movie. I know this will be a wonderful collaboration and I cannot wait to get started," echoed producer Nina Jacobson.

Said Francis, "It is truly an honor and a privilege to bring Catching Fire, the second chapter of Suzanne's beloved trilogy, to the big screen. I fell in love with the characters, the themes and the world she created and this chapter opens all of these elements up in such a thrilling, emotional and surprising way. I can't wait to dive right into it and bring this chapter to life along with the truly superb cast and filmmakers involved."

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth will reprise their roles as Katniss, Peeta and Gale, with Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, and Woody Harrelson also returning to their respective roles. The film will be produced by Jacobson's Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Production is slated to begin this Fall, and the film will be released on November 22, 2013.

THE HUNGER GAMES has broken many box office records since it opened on March 23, 2012. It achieved the highest grossing opening weekend ever for any non-sequel film and the third biggest opening weekend in box office history. It has already grossed $373 million at the North American box office, ranking in the top 20 films of all time, and it recently crossed the $600 million mark in worldwide box office.

Michael Arndt May Do Some Writing on Catching Fire

Source: ComingSoon

May 4, 2012

Just one day after director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) was confirmed to direct Lionsgate's Catching Fire, based on the second book in Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" series, The Hollywood Reporter is saying that Oscar-winning Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt is in talks to do some writing on the original screenplay written by another Oscar-winning writer, Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire).

The sequel to the movie that's currently grossed $600 million worldwide is looking for a late summer start to allow Jennifer Lawrence to keep her commitment to appear in the 20th Century Fox sequel to X-Men: First Class, and if Arndt signs on, he will have to work hard to get the script ready in time for that planned start.

It may not be a coincidence that Arndt recently did work on Disney's Order of the Seven, which Lawrence for many years was attached to direct.

Hunger Games Sequel Officially Titled The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Source: ComingSoon

May 24, 2012

Lionsgate has announced a minor title change for the second part of their blockbuster franchise. Formerly titled Catching Fire, the Francis Lawrence-directed sequel to this year's The Hunger Games will now be called The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Written by Simon Bea and Michael Arndt and adapted from Suzanne Collins' bestseller, the new film will feature the return of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones and Woody Harrelson with quite a few new additions that are expected to be announced soon.

Though unconfirmed, it is an almost certainty that the third chapter, (likely to be released as two separate films) will follow suite and will hit theaters as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Plans an Atlanta Shoot

Source: ComingSoon

June 3, 2012

It appears that production on Lionsgate's upcoming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is being planned to take place in Atlanta, Georgia. The news arrives from Access Atlanta, reporting that the highly-anticipated sequel will film in and around the city from July to December.

Written by Simon Bea and Michael Arndt and adapted from Suzanne Collins' bestseller, the Francis Lawrence film will feature the return of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones and Woody Harrelson with quite a few new additions that are expected to be announced soon.

The original film, The Hunger Games, was filmed in North Carolina. A new shooting location is a logical move, however, as part of the sequel's storyline involves a gaming arena with a wholly different theme.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is planned for a November 22, 2013 release.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire to be Released in IMAX on Nov. 22, 2013

Source: ComingSoon

June 13, 2012

IMAX Corporation and Lionsgate today announced that The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the second film in the wildly popular franchise, will be released in the immersive IMAX format on November 22, 2013.

The first Hunger Games film just crossed the $400 million mark at the North American box office, making it the 14th highest-grossing film of all time. The film has grossed nearly $650 million worldwide, with a rollout in China (including 67 IMAX screens) later this month.

Helping to further eventize this cultural phenomenon and transport moviegoers into the world of Panem, director Francis Lawrence will utilize IMAX cameras in filming portions of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Exclusively in IMAX theatres, sequences shot with the extremely high-resolution cameras will expand to fill the entire screen with unprecedented crispness and clarity, putting moviegoers right into the action alongside Katniss and her fellow Tributes. Leading the cast is Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence, reprising her role as Katniss Everdeen, along with fellow returning cast members Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark.

"We are thrilled to continue the productive partnership we enjoyed with IMAX on the first installment of 'The Hunger Games,'" said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. "Our partnership on the first 'Hunger Games' film was a resounding success, and we look forward to building on that experience with an expanded IMAX relationship on 'Catching Fire.' IMAX delivers a unique and memorable experience that is the perfect way to celebrate this special moviegoing event."

"Beyond the global phenomenon that was 'The Hunger Games,' the film resonated exceptionally with IMAX fans, resulting in sell outs across the network during the limited IMAX run," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We are excited to expand our partnership with director Francis Lawrence, producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik and the Lionsgate team as 'Catching Fire' joins a select group of blockbuster titles that have filmed with IMAX cameras, elevating the property to the next level."

The IMAX release of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is based on the second book in Suzanne Collins' bestselling series. It chronicles the life of Katniss Everdeen after she emerges from the 74th Annual Hunger Games victorious -- but far from safe. Even as she becomes an unwitting symbol of the rebellion mounting in the districts, Katniss never loses sight of her commitment to protect her family.

From IGN:

Wasikowska or Aggeliki for Catching Fire?

Both actresses up for the role of Joanna Mason.

by Max Nicholson

June 22, 2012

We've seen a lot of names tossed around for the part of Finnick Odair in Lionsgate's Catching Fire. But there are still many more roles to be cast for the Hunger Games sequel, including the part of Joanna Mason.

Indie Wire reports that Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, The Kids Are All Right) and actress-model Zoe Aggeliki (R.I.P.D.) are both among the names being tossed around for Joanna, who [WARNING: Minor Spoilers] [End Spoilers]

Sources say Aggeliki could be signed in a few days, but nothing is certain just yet. Director Francis Lawrence is committed to finding the perfect fit for the character and is also looking at lesser known names in addition to Wasikowska and Aggeliki.

Production begins later this year, with Catching Fire scheduled to hit theaters November 22, 2013.

From IGN:

Kevin Nash Up for Catching Fire Role

Kevin Nash to lay the smackdown at the Quarter Quell?

by Max Nicholson

June 25, 2012

Since it was announced, Lionsgate's upcoming sequel The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has opened up the Hollywood doors to speculation on casting the book's wide range of new characters. Earlier this week, we heard that actresses Mia Wasikowska and Zoe Aggeliki were both up for the role of Joanna. (Wasikowska's reps, however, tell Entertainment Weekly that "Wasikowska has neither been approached for the role, nor would be able to play it given other film commitments she has for 2012.") Meanwhile, the jury's still out on the part of Finnick. But most recently, another name has been added to the list of potentials.

Buried in a recent news story for Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike, USA Today revealed that WWF fighter Kevin Nash is currently up for an undisclosed role in Catching Fire. Teased Nash, "I just pray it's recurring, that he doesn't get killed."

Any guesses as to who it could be?

Jena Malone Up for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Role

Source: ComingSoon

June 26, 2012

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Jena Malone ("Hatfields & McCoys," Sucker Punch) is in the running to play the strong-willed tribute Johanna Mason in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The magazine says: The character is described in author Suzanne Collins’ bestseller as possessing “a wicked ability to murder,” winning her Hunger Games by pretending to be weak and then picking off the other tributes.

EW also wonders if the movie will keep Johanna's intro from the book, in which she first meets Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) naked.

The mag added that the earlier rumor of Mia Wasikowska being up for the role of Johanna was not true.

That's the first person they've mentioned for the role that I could see doing it. Not sure she's a perfect fit but pretty good.

And I can't figure out who on earth Kevin Nash would be playing.... He doesn't seem right for any of the roles in the second movie.

EDIT: Oh holy crap he may be Brutus.