Gary Ross Will Not Direct Catching Fire
Recently we’ve been hearing rumors going back and forth about Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Big) directing Catching Fire, the sequel to this years highly successful Hunger Games movie. Well now it is official, Gary Ross will not be returning to direct Catching Fire. I personally did not like a lot of things about the movie, the tempo and delivery of the movie seemed off. Rodney’s review hit a lot of the main things that bugged me about it, including the way they managed shooting it with a shaking camera whenever a good scene came. I like it when a series has the same director, so that the feel continues through the sequels (Hellboy being an example) but movies like X-MEN that had different directors through the sequels thought it would be cool to change things so that the story made no sense. Hopefully a new director in the Hunger Games will keep the continuity of the series faithfully to the book, and also learn from what mistakes the Hunger Games made.
This is what director Gary Ross said:
Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire. 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.
I loved making The Hunger Games – it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results. And contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic. They have also been very understanding of me through this difficult decision.
I also cannot say enough about the people I worked with: Producer Nina Jacobson, a great collaborator and a true friend; the brilliant Suzanne Collins, who entrusted us with her most amazing and important story; the gifted and remarkable Jennifer Lawrence whose performance exceeded my wildest expectations, and the rest of the incredible cast, whom I am proud to call my friends.
To the fans I want to say thank you for your support your faith, your enthusiasm and your trust. Hard as this may be to understand I am trying to keep that trust with you. Thank you all. It’s been a wonderful experience.
And this is what the people at Lionsgate’s said:
We’re very sorry that Gary Ross has chosen not to direct Catching Fire. 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. This will not be the end of our relationship, as we consider Ross to be part of the Lionsgate family and look forward to working with him in the future.
So Gary said he decided not to direct Catching Fire, and Lionsgate said he wasn’t chosen. I’m thinking Lionsgate just told him they were going in a different direction. Catching Fire is aiming to be released November 2013.
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