Francis Lawrence's 'Catching Fire' To-Do List

As a new helmer takes over 'The Hunger Games,' Hobnobbing examines the challenges (and opportunities) that lie ahead.
By Amy Wilkinson

Francis Lawrence
Photo: Ian Gavan/ Getty Images

The reaping has concluded, with Francis Lawrence officially named victor in the contest to direct "Catching Fire," according to a release from Lionsgate.

It's been a fraught few weeks for fans following director Gary Ross' announcement that he would not helm the series' second installment. Numerous directors were reportedly in contention for the coveted position, including Alfonso Cuarón, David Cronenberg, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Bennett Miller. Lionsgate and producer Nina Jacobson ultimately singled out Lawrence, who most recently shepherded "Water for Elephants" from the page to the screen.

"From the very beginning of this brilliant trilogy's journey from page to screen, our first priority has been to stay true to the heart and soul of Suzanne Collins' powerful stories. From my first conversation with Francis, I knew he would make a great partner for both me and Suzanne," producer Nina Jacobson said in a statement. "His passion for 'Catching Fire' and inspired ideas for a faithful adaptation make him the perfect director for this movie. I know this will be a wonderful collaboration and I cannot wait to get started."

With a November 23, 2013, release date looming, Lawrence has a lot to accomplish within the next 18 months. From currying favor among Panem's faithful to casting a cabal of characters, let's examine the opportunities and challenges that await the director:

Fan Following
Say what you will about Ross' vision for and execution of the first installment of Suzanne Collins' series, but the director won over fickle fans before a single frame ever rolled by, positioning himself as an acolyte first and director second. Lawrence is already off to a winning start, posting a special message for fans on Facebook:

Hello fellow Hunger Games fans! I just want you all to know how unbelievably excited and honored I am to be a part of Catching Fire. At the end of the day, all of the work that I put in to my movies is for you -- the fans. Make sure to post and let me know what you're most excited to see in this adaptation as we aim to make something truly faithful and spectacular!

Lawrence can continue building consensus by giving fans further insight into his vision. How about sharing a sneak peek of concept art? Or, as filming progresses, taking a page out of "Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon's playbook and sharing on-set images early? Involving fans during the film's infancy will keep fans eager and engaged.

Study Sequels
There are few more feared curses than the sophomore slump. Propelling an established narrative forward in an engaging and meaningful manner can sometimes be tricky, but it's an art that directors like Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight") have mastered. Better yet, Lawrence would be wise to look at franchises helmed by multiple directors (hello, "Harry Potter") to strategize a smooth transition.

Find Finnick (and Johanna and ... )
Lawrence's first high-profile decision as director will likely be casting the new players introduced during the Quarter Quell. Tributes Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason are of special interest to fans, with casting speculation running rampant. (Unsurprisingly, we have a few suggestions for the hunk and the hottie too.) The caliber of actors Lawrence lines up will say plenty about the sort of sequel he plans to direct. In other words: Make it good, Francis!

Stronger CGI
If there was a chief complaint among fans regarding Ross' work on "The Hunger Games," it was that the Girl on Fire effects were largely lackluster. Lawrence has the opportunity to improve here, and with a brand-new, intricately designed arena, the helmer can create his own vision of the Games that's not reliant upon the precedent set by Ross.

Phone Famous Friends
T. Bone Burnett is one of the best scorers in the biz, and his sensibility helped set the dire tone of the dystopian drama, so we hope he'll sign back up for the sequel. But, as is often the case, director shakeups can lead to staffing shakeups, so if Burnett is no longer game, Lawrence should take advantage of his musically inclined mates from his days as a video director. Aren't you at least a tiny bit curious what a Lady Gaga-produced "Catching Fire" score would sound like?

What do you think should be on Francis Lawrence's to-do list? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me @amymwilk with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns!

Earlier 'Hunger Games' columns
+ 'Fifty Shades Of Grey': What's In It For 'Hunger Games' Fans?
+ 'Catching Fire': Five Reasons To Be Stoked
+ 'Catching Fire' Director: Who Could Carry The Torch?
+ 'Hunger Games' Postmortem: Five Lessons For 'Catching Fire'

Check out everything we've got on "Hunger Games: Catching Fire."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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If you're still in the quest for that perfect Mother's Day gift, E Fun believes you should have to look no further than its recently announced Next 7S tablet. The outfit isn't a newcomer to budget-friendly territory, and it's keeping the trend rolling by pricing its latest 7-inch slate at a mere $129.99. That small amount of cash will get you an 800 x 480 display, a 1GHz single-core processor, 4GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD) and, more importantly, a serving of Android four-dot-oh (4.0.3 to be exact). Unfortunately, the Next 7S -- which itself might be some rebadged hardware -- isn't offering support for Google Play at the moment, thus you're stuck with either Barnes & Noble's Nook shop or the lesser-known GetJar App Store. Head on past the break to check out an extra pic of the Next 7S and the official word from E Fun.

Continue reading E Fun launches $130 Next 7S tablet with Ice Cream Sandwich, 1GHz CPU

E Fun launches $130 Next 7S tablet with Ice Cream Sandwich, 1GHz CPU originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 00:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Docs adds 450 fonts and 60 templates, sadly includes Comic Sans

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Google Docs adds 450 fonts and 60 templates, sadly includes Comic Sans originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 19:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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George Zimmerman MySpace Page Reveals Legal Problems, Possible Racism

An old, long-unused MySpace page belonging to George Zimmerman contains apparently racist comments and casts light on his history of legal problems.

Zimmerman, who faces second-degree murder charges for killing Trayvon Martin, makes disparaging comments about Mexicans on the 2005-dated page.

He also referred triumphantly to his escape from legal troubles stemming from his confrontation with law enforcement officers, among other matters.

The page, which was confirmed as authentic Wednesday by Zimmerman’s attorney Mark O’Mara, also mentions a 7-year-old domestic violence incident.

Zimmerman, 28, gained national notoriety when he shot and killed Martin, 17, in Sanford, Florida, on February 26. He was not charged at the time.

The case has sparked racial tensions around the U.S., as Martin, who was unarmed, was black. Zimmerman has a white father and Hispanic mother.

Martin’s family and supporters claim he was a victim of racial profiling, while the former neighborhood watch volunteer claims he acted in self-defense.

On the old MySpace page, called “onlytobeakingagain,” Zimmerman uses the name “Joe G” and discusses leaving his hometown of Manassas, Va.

He muses on how much he misses his friends, then vveers into a slang-filled rant, with many words misspelled, about Mexicans who lived in the area.

Zimmerman writes:

“I don’t miss driving around scared to hit mexicans walkin on the street, soft (expletive) wanna be thugs messin with peoples cars when they aint around (what are you provin, that you can dent a car when no ones watchin) don’t make you a man in my book.”

“Workin 96 hours to get a decent pay check, gettin knifes pulled on you by every mexican you run into!” he adds, providing no details about these incidents.

This, of course, has little, if anything, to do with the facts of the Martin case, but it does offer an interesting window into the mind of the defendant.

Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump said Wednesday that be believes prosecutors could use Zimmerman’s MySpace comments against him.

“It’s not just speculation and innuendo. He has a history and a habit of profiling people,” he said. “He thinks certain things about certain racial groups.”

A statement posted on a Zimmerman defense site run by O’Mara concedes that the comments “will cast Mr. Zimmerman in a less-than-favorable light."

O'Mara even concedes it could be used as evidence in the case. His statement says there will be no comment on the MySpace statements for that reason.

The second post mentions a legal battle with an “ex-hoe,” likely a reference to a 2005 incident in which a girlfriend accused Zimmerman of attacking her.

He was not charged in that case, and on the blog post, Zimmerman writes that the woman “tried her hardest, but the judge saw through it!”

Zimmerman’s wife testified at his bail hearing in April. during which he apologized to Trayvon Martin's family, that her husband told her he was actually defending himself in that incident, not the other way around.

A recent photo of Zimmerman's bloody head may bolster his claim that he acted in self-defense during the Martin incident, which he maintains.

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