The Hunger Games

[funthing29]

I think it's easier for a director to commit to a trilogy rather than a 7 book franchise like Harry Potter.

LOTR was unusual in the sense that all 3 movies were filmed together whereas nowadays the studios are more cautious and like to see how successful the initial film is before they greenlight the sequels.

It will be quite a rush to have all the pre-production and filming done on Catching Fire before January and there are some scenes that will be quite special effects heavy so it is understandable that the director has walked away.

[beardy2]

A bit of a feminist cliche, but I'd love to see them give a female director an opportunity, especially as The Hunger Games is so unusual in having such a strong teenage girl protagonist.

[raj101]

A bit of a feminist cliche, but I'd love to see them give a female director an opportunity, especially as The Hunger Games is so unusual in having such a strong teenage girl protagonist.

I'd second that, although a good male director can embellish a female lead excellently too (thinks BUffy/Whedon).

As long as its not Catherine Hardwicke?

[soonforgotten]

My concern is far less with who is helming the films (I can't see Lionsgate skimping) than I am about the window they have to shoot three films. By the final half of Mockingjay there's at least one character who will look far older than she should be at that point, unless they recast. Some of the other characters will noticeably age too. Catching Fire and Mockingjay should be shot one after the other, but I see little chance of that happening.

[beardy2]

I'd second that, although a good male director can embellish a female lead excellently too (thinks BUffy/Whedon).

As long as its not Catherine Hardwicke?

Definitely. And you're right, men have created some amazing female heroines (Buffy being a great example), but it's been brought up, most specifically by Miss Representation, that directing in Hollywood can be a bit of a a boy's club (and that strong female characters are few and far between).

Now that Gary Ross has bowed out and they have an opportunity to give three more talented directors a shot, it'd be great if even one was a woman! I'd love to see what someone like Kathryn Bigelow would do with the action in Chasing Fire.

[beardy2]

Catching Fire and Mockingjay should be shot one after the other, but I see little chance of that happening.

Especially with Jennifer Lawrence's XMen contracts. I know she's signed for this next one and maybe another as well. Plus they're dividing Mockingjay into two films. Twice the shooting schedule. A few of the posters have expressed concern with Jennifer Lawrence's aging, but I think it's Josh Hutcherson who's really going to hit a growth spurt soon.

[soonforgotten]

Catching Fire and Mockingjay should be shot one after the other, but I see little chance of that happening.

Especially with Jennifer Lawrence's XMen contracts. I know she's signed for this next one and maybe another as well. Plus they're dividing Mockingjay into two films. Twice the shooting schedule. A few of the posters have expressed concern with Jennifer Lawrence's aging, but I think it's Josh Hutcherson who's really going to hit a growth spurt soon.

[spoiler]Yes, Hutcherson would be my primary concern amongst the leads but I really can't see Willow Shields carrying on as Prim. I'd hate the role to be recast, but it's going to be an awkward change either way. It's an unfortunate position to be in.[/spoiler]

[canadian_turtle]

I didn't know Mockingjay would be two films! Yay more Hunger Games

[spoiler](and hopefully lots more Finnick and Prim)[/spoiler]

[anakin]

Re the ageing

[spoiler]But isn't it quite normal for a 12 year old to age a fair bit in the two years the books span? Doesn't Katniss even say how much Prim has grown in the books? Equally plausible for a 17 year old to change quite a lot...[/spoiler]

[beardy2]

Hope I haven't gotten too off topic with Hunger Games, but I'd definitely be interested to hear about people's casting ideas for Chasing Fire (can we continue this on here or do we need to start a new Chasing Fire thread?)