Hunger Games fans, we have been saved! Movie studio Lionsgate -- probably anticipating an angry mob of District 13-types storming their headquarters -- has found a way to make sure sequel Catching Fire gets filmed after all. Hollywood insiders are reporting Francis Lawrence will be taking the helm as director.
The news comes two weeks after the studio scared us half to death by cutting ties with Games' director and screenwriter Gary Ross. It was especially scary because Ross had developed a rapport with the Games' notoriously media-shy author, Suzanne Collins. But folks, all is not lost. The choice of Lawrence -- who is not related to star Jennifer Lawrence in case you were wondering -- might just be what we really needed.
If you remember, this is the same thing that happened with Twilight. The first movie blew up the box office big time, and like Ross and Collins, director Catherine Hardwicke had developed a close relationship with the Twilight saga's author Stephenie Meyer, only to find herself out of a job when it was time to shoot the second movie. But in came Chris Weitz to direct New Moon and set records at the box office (most of which were broken ... by the next Twilight flick).
The change didn't exactly hurt Twilight. In fact, it might have helped it. And with the similar audience that the two film franchises are trying to reach, it would be smart for the people behind The Hunger Games to learn whatever it can from the other series' success.
Not to mention, in the six-degree tradition of all things Hollywood, Francis Lawrence has his own Twilight connection. In addition to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video, which won him a Grammy, Lawrence directed the feature film Water for Elephants featuring one Robert Pattinson, fresh off Twilight fame. That was a straight up romance, an experience that can't hurt Lawrence as he faces trying to portray the increasing tension of the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale that comes out in the Catching Fire storyline.
Check out what actors Woody Harrelson and Lenny Kravitz had to say about what it takes to bring aspects of the books to the big screen:
What are you most looking forward to seeing in the sequel to The Hunger Games?
Image via Amazon.com
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Comments 4
No one really thought the movie wouldn't be made despite Gary Ross pulling out, did they? The Hunger Games is a box office smash. There's absolutely NO WAY the studio would not capitalize on that. Of course the next 2 (or more? If they split a book up) will be made. That said, I'm really looking forward to seeing Catching Fire!
ummm... but the first Twilight movie was terrible and the director didn't understand working in a fantasy genre at all. Nothing about it was well done including the acting since she apparently felt that none of the characters were allowed to show emotion (the only remotely interesting scene being when RPatt is banging dents out of the Chevy. Hey look he's likable!) The first Hunger Games movie, by contrast was about as dead on as a movie adaptation of a book can be. Before your start listing what wasn't there imagine how much time adding even 1 character or scene would have added to the running time. Not all book adaptations can be Lord of the Rings Esq epics.
Not sad about this AT ALL. Hope the next director decides that it might not be a bad idea to hold the camera STILL while shooting. Seriously, I went to see this yesterday with my husband, and after 45 minutes, I literally went to the bathroom to be sick. I don't need the camera up in every actors grill just to make sure that I catch every fleeting emotion as it crosses their faces. Hold the fricking camera STILL -- trust me, I'll GET it!
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