We posted earlier this week that Francis Lawrence, the director of such films as I Am Legend and Water for Elephants, was reportedly one of Lionsgate’s top choices to direct the sequel to the year’s biggest film so far, The Hunger Games. Well now, it’s official, as Lawrence has been extended (and will presumably accept) the offer today.
Other directors in contention for the slot were Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men), Alejandro Gonzalez Iñáritu (Babel), Bennett Miller (Moneyball), David Cronenberg (A Dangerous Method), and more. In an exclusive report on the matter by The Hollywood Reporter, it was stated that Lawrence’s open schedule was a major factor in the decision. You’ll recall that the director of The Hunger Games, Gary Ross, had to drop from the sequel because he felt he didn’t have enough time to meets its November 2013 release date.
Can’t you just anticipate all the talk show appearances in which the star of the Hunger Games franchise, Jennifer Lawrence, will have to assert the fact that while she shares Francis’ last name, they are not related and no nepotism was involved in the decision?
Source: THR
I might have known they'd end up offering this to Lawrence. These "director searches" are almost always a bunch of PR hogwash cooked up to keep interest going. Remember when Gus Van Sant was "approached" to direct TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN? It's usually the same drill- studio throws out half a dozen names, including three or four really tantalizing ones, then ends up giving the job to the one it can boss around and who won't try to impose his own style on the franchise.
Do you think these PR moves actually make any noticeable affect on the grosses? Are jaded cinephiles who would normally skip something like CATCHING FIRE prone to attending just to bitch about how Alfonso Cuarón would have nailed it? I pretty much know that’s going to be what I’ll be thinking while watching THE WOLVERINE.
No, I don't think it's so much trying to reel in audiences as to keep the people who follow movies interested in the HUNGER GAMES franchise. With so much entertainment news out there, it takes an ever-increasing amount of PR energy to keep a property at the forefront of people's minds. Therefore, Lionsgate and their marketing team are going to milk every last little bit of information they can to keep interest up among those who haven't already marked their calendars with CATCHING FIRE's release date. Just watch- there's going to be plenty more news throughout the summer, especially when the roles of Finnick and Johanna (two of the key "new" characters in the second book) are being cast.