The backpedaling began almost immediately
when word broke late last week that Gary Ross would not be helming Catching Fire. This past Monday even
Deadline reported that Ross was still in contention to direct. But it was
confirmed late Tuesday that indeed, he will not be back.
"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 provided to The Wrap. "As a writer and 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."
Even before Hunger Games was released, Lionsgate –seeing the positive word of
mouth the film was getting- set a November 22, 2013 release date for the
sequel. But it was in post-production of Hunger
Games when –at the request of Ross- Lionsgate brought in Simon Beaufoy to
help him and author Suzanne Collins adapt the screenplay.
But apparently now that Ross
could give his full attention to Catching
Fire, it became clear to polish off the screenplay along with other aspects
of pre-production, he could not meet the start date and thus, a release date of
November 2013.
Part of the reason the film needs
to shoot by the end of summer is that star Jennifer Lawrence needs to be on the
set of the X Men: First Class sequel
in January – a film 20th Century Fox has delayed because Catching Fire was –supposedly- ready to
film.
But this does put Lionsgate in a
tight situation, as not only do they need to find a new director, but a new
writer as well. So the ultimate question is can they get the sequel up and
running without cutting so many corners that it affects the end result?
"We're very sorry that Gary
Ross has chosen not to direct 'Catching Fire,'" Lionsgate said in a
statement. "We were really looking forward to making the movie with him.
He did an incredible job on the first film, and we are grateful for his
work."
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