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OFFICIAL: Gary Ross Announces He Won’t Direct Hunger Games Sequel Catching Fire

10:15 pm, April 10th, 2012

(Scholastic)

Gary Ross has officially announced he won’t direct The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire.

In a statement released Tuesday night, the filmmaker says he doesn’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.”

FULL STATEMENTS BELOW

Ross adds that making the first movie, based on the Suzanne Collins novel, “was the happiest experience of my professional life,” and he knows some fans will be disappointed.

For its part, Lionsgate says it is “very sorry” that Ross has chosen to move on.

What do you think of Ross’ decision?

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GARY ROSS STATEMENT

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.

LIONSGATE STATEMENT

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.

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  • HappyHungerGames

    What is up with greedy studios pushing out deserving directors because of a salary dispute? It happened with Twilight and now it’s happening with HG.

  • Lindsey

    I wish they would have one director for the whole series so the movies are actually cohesive. I loved the first one, and have a feeling it will be my favorite (partly because it’s my favorite book of the series). Every twilight movie had different directors and you can tell. I don’t want that to happen to this series too.

  • Mikey

    ^ and HP has tons of different directors too. It makes a huge difference.

  • anon123

    one word: shit

  • alicia

    I dont think it was a salary dispute. From what I have heard it was because they have already set a release date for the 2nd movie and Jennifer Lawerence was already slated to be filming Xmen (which her contract with them predates HG so she had to do it) and that gave them only 4 months starting in Aug to copmletely film all of the 2nd movie. I dont blame him. If lionsgate hadnt set a release date already maybe they would have been able to work something out. Still a bummer though.

  • Fan of the Books

    What they should do is replace the screenwriter. Whoever it is missed major plot points. And half the cast needs to be replaced as well. Jennifer/Liam and Jennifer/Josh don’t have any chemistry. Everything seemed too forced.

  • Fan of the Books

    Its actually been in the news that Ross was wanting a salary increase since HG did so well at the box office. I’m sure it was a mix with scheduling conflicts as well. But the studio is really cheap. Lawrence got paid only $500,000 for HG. That’s crap.

  • getitright

    * the author of the book and the director actually wrote the screenplay…..

  • Theo

    Collins wrote the original screenplay however it was revised by screenwriter Billy Ray. I doubt Collins was happy that major plots were changed/left out of the script.

  • Mel

    I would have loved to see him direct Catching Fire. I thought he did a great job with the first but I can understand why he’d back out if he doesn’t feel he can create a great sequel in the amount of time given to him. It’s the same reason Catherine Hardwicke left after the first Twilight movie. I really hope this series doesn’t go through a new director for each movie like that series did. It’s not the worst thing, but sometimes you get the feeling that you’re not even watching the same series.

  • Samuel

    They should either replace Jennifer Lawrence or make her lose weight. She is too chunky to play Katniss. She’s getting paid millions for the movies and she can’t be bothered to lose a few pounds? I wish Rooney Mara was cast instead. She would be perfect.

  • http://www.nakedspa.es/ Kiara Rawlings

    She’s getting paid millions for the movies and she can’t be bothered to lose a few pounds?

  • Vanessa

    shes not even big! if someone is too fat, its wrong, if someone is too skinny its wrong. and here we have jennifer lawrence who is perfectly fit and you say shes fat?! wat is wrong with you? its people like that, that drive others to be insecure. there is nothing wrong with her physique at all. and if u read the book, then you would see that, yes katniss WAS skinny, but on her tour to the districts in the book, she eats a lot and gains some weight. she fit the part perfectly so there is absolutely no need to be calling her big. look at yourself in the mirror and say the very same thing to your own face and see how you would like it afterward. walk a mile in someones shoes before you judge. she has talent! her weight should have nothing to do with that.

  • Chloe

    Lindsey – - I totally agree I’m not sure the studio understands the difference in directors is not a good thing. Yes, we got luck with HP but you could tell the difference from one movie to the next. However, when they did this with Twilight it was part of the reason it ruin my interest in Twilight.

  • Chloe

    Suzanne Collins the author of the book and the director wrote the script you can’t get any better then that.

  • Lishabean 86

    If people think jennifer is fat they need a serious reality check….she’s looks great, not skinny anorexic like most out there. She’s what woman should look like,

  • http://www.lexingtonflowers.info/ SybleDunni

    Ross adds that making the first movie, based

  • Dr Snake

    Considering his direction was slammed by virtually every critic (along with the wimpy script) it’s a blessing for the franchise.

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