Get used to the name Lawrence, everyone, because The Hunger Games franchise now depends entirely on both JENNIFER LAWRENCE and FRANCIS LAWRENCE!
Francis Lawrence is the new director for Catching Fire, replacing Gary Ross! This breaking report comes from The Hollywood Reporter.
Here’s an excerpt:
Sources say that Lawrence will receive an official offer this afternoon. If he accepts and a deal can be worked out, he will replace Gary Ross, who directed the first installment of the hugely successful franchise.The hunt had been a fast and furious one, with the field narrowing down to Lawrence, the director of I Am Legend and Water for Elephants, and Bennett Miller, the director of the acclaimed Brad Pitt baseball movie Moneyball. Both directors met with the studio today, according to sources, and Lionsgate executives have made their pick.
Lawrence was deemed the front-runner by observers simply because of his open schedule. Miller is working his way to a December start for Foxcatcher, a true-life project centering John Du Pont that has been his focus for several years. Miller has even lined up Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffallo for the drama and pushing it would have been a Herculean task.
See the full report HERE!