Francis Lawrence Set to Direct HUNGER GAMES Sequel

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate, the studio behind the blockbuster THE HUNGER GAMES, has selecEd Francis Lawrence to direct the film's sequel 'Catching Fire'.

Lawrence will replace 'Hunger Games' Gary Ross, who directed the hugely successful first installment of the series. Lionsgate recently began an intensive search for a director to fill Ross' shoes, eventually narrowing down their selection to Lawrence, director of I Am Legend and Water for Elephants, and Bennett Miller, who helmed the Oscar-nominated Brad Pitt baseball movie Moneyball. Sources tell THR that both directors met with the studio yesterday. Lawrence was considered to be favored due to his more-available work schedule.

Other directors under consideration for Catching Fire were Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In, Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy), Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu (Babel), Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre) and Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code).