It’s a boy! Francis Lawrence set to take on HUNGER GAMES sequel, CATCHING FIRE
It has just been announced that Francis Lawrence (I AM LEGEND, CONSTANTINE, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS) is going to direct the highly-anticipated sequel to the highly-successful film THE HUNGER GAMES. CATCHING FIRE is being scripted by Simon Beaufoy (THE FULL MONTY, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE), and is set to be released in November, 2013.
After THE HUNGER GAMES director Gary Ross confirmed he would not be involved with its sequel, the resulting blogospheric conversation about "who" might take over the project from him took a decidedly feminine turn. The brief turnaround time is one of the reasons Ross cited in his decision to walk away from the project.
The initial round of names dropped into Lionsgate's directorial wish-list hat included everyone from David Cronenberg to Alfonso Cuaron. The frustration that, seemingly, no female names were officially considered to helm the sequel was an expected part of the collective response, especially considering the nature of the series as a whole. The number of film writers and sites offering up their own firmly feminine wish-lists, either in anticipation or fleeting hope that Lionsgate might actually have seized upon this moment to install a female to helm the next episode in the life of author Suzanne Collins' fiercely empowered heroine, Katniss Everdeen, became a lively conversation in and of itself.
I wonder how much, if any, consideration Lionsgate gave towards this conversation?
It would have been a progressive move for them to have had the balls to seize upon the moment by going in a different direction. (No offense, Francis Lawrence.) It would have been monumental, important, even profound had they gone with any number of talented, proven, qualified women to helm this chapter in a series that not only speaks to female empowerment but actually succeeds in doing so across gender lines. Capitalizing on the broader implications that the incorporation of a woman's directorial eye might bring to the film, CATCHING FIRE might have come to represent more than just a "sequel."
But alas, that is not to be the case. (No offense, Francis Lawrence.)
I am woman. Hear me meow.
Source Indiewire
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