Jennifer Lawrence And Natalie Dormer Looking Like Badasses In MOCKINGJAY Set Photos

DailyMail and other photo sites have scooped some new set images from Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.  Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) is decked out with some heavy firepower, while oddly we see others like Katniss still using bows. The photos also include images of Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Sam Claflin and Mahershala Ali. To say this movie looks amazing is an understatement. I totally dig what I'm seeing, I avoid the final book because I wanted the last two films to surprise me. I'm glad I did because it looks like the movies might turnout better than the final book.

Teaser Trailer For THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

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

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.

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.

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.