Liam Hemsworth Could Take The Lead Of Universal's Sci-Fi Thriller THE RAVEN

Deadline reports that Aussie actor Liam Hemsworth (Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Expendables 2) is in talks for the lead role in The Raven. The science fiction thriller is based on a short viral video by director Ricardo de Montreuil which was picked up by Universal to be turned into a feature film. It has a script from Michael Gilio and Justin Marks and is expected to begin production in June.

Two More Images From CATCHING FIRE Feature Liam Hemsworth And Josh Hutcherson

First Official Glimpses From HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE With Cover And Image

Sam Claflin Officially Joins HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

Lionsgate (via ThePlaylist) has finally confirmed that British actor Sam Claflin (Pirates 4, Snow White And The Huntsman) has landed the role of Finnick Odair in Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Jena Malone Officially Joins 'CATCHING FIRE'

HeatVision has official word from Lionsgate that Jena Melone (Sucker Punch, Hatfields & McCoys) has landed the role of tribute Johanna Mason in Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Joe Cornish To Direct Cyberpunk Thriller 'SNOW CRASH'

Joe Cornish has lined up his next film which will be a cyberpunk thriller based on the novel Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. Cornish has had an interesting bit of success with his first film Attack The Block becoming a big hit among genre fans. He also helped write the Tintin script with his Ant-Man co-writer Edgar Wright. Joe had been in the mix to replace Hunger Games director Gary Ross for it's sequel Catching Fire.


Set in the near future, when the U.S. exists as a patchwork of corporate-franchise city-states, and private enterprise and the mafia control everything. The plot involves a computer virus that is manifested as a drug called Snow Crash that is transmitted visually from computer screens to unsuspecting users, frying their brains. Hiro Protagonist – that’s the character’s name – a computer hacker/samurai swordsman/pizza delivery driver who investigates and tries to stop the takeover of postmodern civilization.

 SOURCE: Deadline

Philip Seymour Hoffman Offered Role In 'CATCHING FIRE'

There is breaking news via Variety that an offer from Lionsgate has gone out to Philip Seymour Hoffman (MI3, Boogie Nights, Big Lebowski, The Master) for the role of Plutarch Heavensbee in Catching Fire. The Hunger Games sequel has Francis Lawrence set to direct this summer with a release date of November 22nd 2013.

SOURCE: Variety

It's Official Francis Lawrence Will Direct 'CATCHING FIRE', Production Still Set For Fall

Lionsgate can give a sigh of relief has they've officially set Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) to direct the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire. Even more impressive is that the fall shoot won't be changed and things are going along as originally planned before Gary Ross exited. 20th Century Fox must be happy with the news as Jennifer Lawrence will be headed right into production on the X-Men First Class right after Catching Fire wraps. There had been concerns that if Fire didn't start in the fall, Jennifer would be whisked away by Fox. As the studio already pushed production on First Class 2 from the fall to January 2013 giving Jennifer enough time to make Catching Fire.

'X-MEN FIRST CLASS' Sequel Coming Christmas 2013

20th Century's Tom Rothman is quickly becoming more a voice piece for the studio than ever before. During CinemaCon, Rothman had been talking up future films like The Wolverine (July 26th 2013), Daredevil and Fantastic Four reboots. He also talked to MTV about the X-Men First Class sequel which he confirms will shoot in January for a possible Christmas 2013 release date.

"We're going to start shooting January 2013 for [a release date of] either Christmas 2013, or Summer 2014,....The script is in development now. Matt, Simon Kinberg and Jane Goldman are working on it now."

Jennifer Lawrence's Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire will be shooting first. Since the studio has given Lionsgate enough time to make the sequel before sweeping Jennifer back for First Class 2. It would make sense to release the X-Men sequel right after Catching Fire (November 22nd 2013) to capture that exposure of Lawrence.They are also open to giving it more time for a summer 2014 release date if needed.

Francis Lawrence Offered To Direct 'CATCHING FIRE'

HeatVision reports that Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) has been offered the directing gig for the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire. Production on the film is expected to start as soon as August to meet the November 2013 release date. ThePlaylist had originally reported that Lionsgate was down to Lawrence and Bennett Miller (Moneyball). Other directors that ended up in the mix included Tomas Alfredson (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Let The Right One In), Joe Cornish (Attack The Block), Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code), Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre, Jane Eyre) and Antonio Bayona (The Orphange).

It will be interesting to see what the franchise will look like with Francis calling the shots. While he's had success with I Am Legend his other films including Constantine and Water For Elephants didn't impress audiences. He does have a better grasp at digital effects than Gary Ross but some of films have used some terribly unimaginative creature designs such as the vampires in I Am Legend.

Gary Ross Won't Be Directing 'CATCHING FIRE', Lionsgate Has A Shortlist Of Replacements

Earlier this week it was announced that Gary Ross wouldn't be returning to direct the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire. There had been rumblings of "problems" during the production which didn't help when Steven Soderbergh ended up offering his services as second unit director. Ross' shaky-cam shooting style was said to be the biggest flaw of the film. So it's not surprising to see the studio searching for a new visionary director. Hunger Games is now a franchise and needs to evolve that could mean different directors with each new film. The film has already earned for Lionsgate and they need to keep the production moving or risk losing Jennifer Lawrence to the X-Men First Class sequel.

24Frames reports the studio already has a shortlist of directing candidates which includes Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Gravity),  David Cronenberg (Cosmopolis, Eastern Promises) and Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams, Biutiful, Babel). Alfonso seems like the best choice since he's come into an established franchise before with the Prisoner of Azkaban and is currently one of the best science fiction directors working today. Alejandro has the awards pedigree with multiple films earning Oscar nominations and wins. However, he's never made the jump to blockbusters so it could be interesting to see him take on Catching Fire, even more science fiction. Oddly enough, while Cronenberg seems the weirdest choice of this group he was previously offered to direct films like Return of The Jedi, Robocop (original) and Top Gun.

Lionsgate Looking At Slumdog Writer To Pen Hunger Games Sequel

Deadline reports that Lionsgate is moving quickly on the buzz from the recent Hunger Games trailer and are already looking at writers for the sequel. The next book in the series titled Catching Fire will likely be the installment to be adapted. They say the studio is looking at screenwriter Simon Beaufoy who is best known for Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours. I'm sure the studio is waiting until the first film's release to move any further than the script phase. However, it's been Lionsgate's original plan to make a trilogy.