Who should direct 'Catching Fire' and why
We name some top contenders for the choice gig now that Gary Ross has exited
Who Should Direct 'Catching FIre' and Why
"Catching Fire," the upcoming sequel to Lionsgate's smash hit "The Hunger Games," is being hurried to the starting gate, with star Jennifer Lawrence returning as Katniss. However, director Gary Ross, who directed the first entry, is officially not returning. With the studio weighing its options, we'd like to offer some of our suggestions.
What do you think of the choices? Did we forget anyone? Vote for your favorite candidates.
Photo Credit: Lionsgate
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April 11, 2012 at 2:17PM EST Reply to CommentWait...why no Steven Soderbergh? He's already directed at least ONE SCENE in the franchise. Why not let him take over?
GeoffBerkshire He might be all tied up with the Liberace movie for HBO. And he hasn't seemed very comfortable working on projects controlled by studios lately. But it would be a fresh challenge for him, and he seems to like that.
April 11, 2012 at 2:46PM ESTIf he's free and willing, I'd love to see it.
Crow3711
April 11, 2012 at 2:22PM EST Reply to CommentCurtis Hanson. just because he needs to make anything at all. I'll see anything he does.
Brendan
April 11, 2012 at 2:35PM EST Reply to CommentJoe Johnston, best known for...Jurassic Park III? Really?
Bill Exactly - have you been asleep for the last 3 years Greg?
April 12, 2012 at 5:10AM ESTDefRef
April 11, 2012 at 3:14PM EST Reply to CommentHow does someone so ignorant as to write, "Cabin [in the Woods]" is his first movie and it took an awfully long time to reach theaters," manage to find and retain employment at a supposedly credible media site?!
Cabin was trapped in the MGM bankruptcy along with the Red Dawn remake (which is being further delayed to change the Chinese invaders into North Koreans in order not to offend the country bankrolling our deficits) and that's why it's only coming out now.
While the marketing may leave it wanting at the B.O. (it's hard to explain without spoiling and horror is soft in the Spring), the reviews I've seen have uniformly been, "It's impossible to discuss it without spoiling the fun, so take our word and go see it!" Even the wrong-headed item mentions that it's a good film, so why speciously mention the delay in release?
GeoffBerkshire That comment was simply about a perception (rightly, or wrongly) of why Goddard may not be right for the job. If it seemed ignorant, it was only because I was trying to think like a bottom-line-focused executive.
April 11, 2012 at 3:59PM ESTSince Lionsgate is releasing "Cabin" and is responsible for "Catching Fire," they'll understand the situation. If "Cabin" does well at the box office despite the challenges you've mentioned, Goddard could be a real contender for this job.
I suspect the irreverent sensibility would be a bigger issue anyway.
mdk
April 11, 2012 at 3:30PM EST Reply to CommentSince the suits want it cheap and quick, unfortunately, I smell a Ratner!
mdk
April 11, 2012 at 3:30PM EST Reply to CommentSince the suits want it cheap and quick, unfortunately... I smell a Ratner!
JohnT
April 11, 2012 at 4:47PM EST Reply to CommentI think Joe Wright is also a good possibility. He shows he can do emotional drama (Atonement) and action (Hanna). If he can finish up Anna Karenina soon, I think he would be great for Catching Fire
officer_murphy Reply to comment...
April 12, 2012 at 11:22AM ESTofficer_murphy God, I would love to see Wright on this project. The opening sequence of Hanna immediately made me think that he could be perfect for it.
April 12, 2012 at 11:25AM ESTJonnybon
April 11, 2012 at 5:05PM EST Reply to CommentI hate most of the suggestions in the slideshow. Darabont and Boyle are the only ones I agree with there.
And please, Greg, learn the difference between "TO" and "TOO". PLEASE. :)
weed4504
April 11, 2012 at 8:15PM EST Reply to CommentDoes Too Big To Fail not count as a feature film from Hanson?
Cal
April 11, 2012 at 9:20PM EST Reply to CommentI wouldn't say that Boyle hasn't done action, doesn't 28 Days Later count?
coleglunz Agreed. And let's not kid ourselves.. Hunger Games had very little "action".
April 11, 2012 at 11:37PM ESTJonnybon There is more action in the Catching Fire and a lot more in Mockingjay.
April 12, 2012 at 6:54AM ESTKatcastil
April 11, 2012 at 10:37PM EST Reply to CommentJoe Johnston..Jurassic Park III was a big hit...Maybe he can do it again with "Catching Fire".
ed w
April 12, 2012 at 1:33AM EST Reply to CommentMike Newell. Because he has experience at this kind of thing with Goblet of Fire yet is not a hack.
Of those listed I'd say Duncan Jones.
jon_erik
April 12, 2012 at 1:41AM EST Reply to CommentMichael Bay and M. Night Shyamalan should do a joint collaboration on this project.
Dezbot You didn't like THE HUNGER GAMES, did you?
April 12, 2012 at 1:32PM ESTSHILL
April 12, 2012 at 2:03AM EST Reply to CommentI'm good with either Jones or Boyle (though Verhoeven is potentially an insanely awesome idea
That Werewolf Guy
April 12, 2012 at 5:13AM EST Reply to CommentHa! I love the inclusion of Verhoeven, but I doubt that he is willing to go all PG 13 on such a subject and Lionsgate wants to make a HUNGER GAMES sequel, that they have to submit 7 times to the MPAA, just to not receive an NC17.
sfgeek
April 12, 2012 at 11:11AM EST Reply to CommentHowabout Doug Liman...He seems like he would do some decent justice to the series.
officer_murphy
April 12, 2012 at 11:33AM EST Reply to CommentNo mention of Cuaron? I know his Harry Potter experience makes him an easy mark, but his resume reads like a straight-up pitch to take over this franchise.
The guy's an ace at literary adaptation (including children's lit), can build a vivid and exciting dystopian world, can handle love-triangles, and has already taken over a major franchise midway. What more can we ask for?
sfgeek I totally agree with your estimate of Cuaron. Perfect match. I scrub my Liman recommendation.
April 12, 2012 at 11:51AM ESTed w Any of the Potter directors would be superior to Ross who did a mediocre job at best, with all his closeups and jittery-cam in the first half hour.
April 12, 2012 at 3:15PM ESTAle
April 14, 2012 at 3:54PM EST Reply to CommentBoyle ......an what about Alfonso???
Skippy
April 14, 2012 at 8:04PM EST Reply to CommentNeill Blomkamp. District 9 showed a real ability to do character work, action, and create a specific world. I think he'd be great.
Out of your choices, I like Duncan Jones. Yes, Moon was very indie, but Source Code was a good jump up in production values.
Skippy Yes, I accidentally reposted a million times. Now I look like an idiot or Neill Blomkamp's agent. Or both. Sorry.
April 14, 2012 at 8:08PM ESTdan Don't worry. I cleaned it up...
April 14, 2012 at 8:13PM EST-Daniel
Digg
April 17, 2012 at 10:59PM EST Reply to CommentHow about Joss Whedon?
yakovleva_olya
April 18, 2012 at 8:54AM EST Reply to CommentI watched this film, to be honest I really, really liked it, and I'm ready to review it again 20 even bolshe.Film shot amazing.