Sci-Fi Film and Television Developments

Catching Fire

5/3/12 - Lionsgate has confirmed that Francis Lawrence is signed on to direct Catching Fire.  "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," Lionsgate's president of production, Erik Feig, said in a statement. 

4/11/12 - Director Gary Ross addressed recent reports speculating about whether he would return at the helm for the second movie in the Hunger Games franchise. "Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire," Ross said in a statement.  He cited time as a major factor for why he pulled out of the project. "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," Ross said.

4/6/12 - Fox informed talent agencies that the studio plans to begin shooting its sequel to X-Men: First Class in January, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  That means Lionsgate could move forward with an August-September start date for the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire without a conflict for Jennifer Lawrence.  As THR previously reported, tensions between the studios were running high last month as Fox was considering filming the Matthew Vaughn-directed X-Men follow-up in the fall, potentially conflicting with Lionsgate's plans for Hunger Games. Fox, which cast Lawrence as the shape-shifting Mystique in summer 2010, months before Lionsgate chose her to play Katniss Everdeen in March 2011, has the right to exercise the option on her contract if it conflicts with another Hunger.

4/4/12 - The Hunger Games director Gary Ross may not return for the next installment, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  Unlike stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, Ross is not signed for a sequel.  And negotiations for him to do the first movie were "a terrible experience," says a source.  He ended up taking a relatively low $3 million to write and direct. But he will collect a very remunerative 5 percent of backend.  Sources say Ross would like a significant raise for a second Hunger Games, but Lionsgate didn't kick off negotiations with him until about three weeks before the first film's March 23 opening. By then, with tracking suggesting a huge opening weekend, Ross and his CAA reps were in no hurry to bargain.  Lionsgate has a script from Simon Beaufoy 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 Lawrence to start another X-Men movie first.   Adding urgency: Lionsgate already has booked a November 2013 release for Hunger Games: Catching Fire.   Sources involved with the franchise are betting that Ross will return.

8/8/11 - Lionsgate has claimed the Thanksgiving 2013 holiday for Catching Fire, the second film in the Hunger Games franchise. The sequel opens in theaters Nov. 22, 2013. Director Gary Ross is presently shooting The Hunger Games, the first movie in the series, which hits the big screen March 23, 2012. The movies are based on Suzanne Collins’ blockbuster young adult book trilogy. “The magical thing about the Hunger Games trilogy is that the books have such a vastly broad appeal. The stories truly offer something for everyone, and the period around the Thanksgiving weekend is such an opportunity for families and friends to make an event of going to the movies,” Lionsgate co-COO and Motion Picture Group president Joe Drake said.

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