Francis Lawrence to direct 'Hunger Games' sequels

FILE - In this image released by Lionsgate, Jennifer Lawrence portrays Katniss Everdeen in a scene from "The Hunger Games." Lionsgate announced Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, that "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" filmmaker Francis Lawrence would also direct "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One" and "Part Two." (AP Photo/Lionsgate, Murray Close, File)

FILE - In this image released by Lionsgate, Jennifer Lawrence portrays Katniss Everdeen in a scene from "The Hunger Games." Lionsgate announced Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, that "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" filmmaker Francis Lawrence would also direct "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One" and "Part Two." (AP Photo/Lionsgate, Murray Close, File)

FILE - In this May 3, 2011 file photo, director Francis Lawrence arrives for the UK film premiere Water For Elephants at the Westfield centre in west London. Lionsgate announced Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, that "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" filmmaker Lawrence would also direct "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One" and "Part Two." (AP Photo/Joel Ryan, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? The odds are ever in Francis Lawrence's favor.

Lionsgate announced Thursday that "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" filmmaker will also direct "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay ? Part One" and "Part Two." Lawrence previously directed the Will Smith post-apocalyptic thriller "I Am Legend" and stepped in to direct "The Hunger Games" sequel "Catching Fire" after director Gary Ross departed the franchise.

"The Hunger Games" films star Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson as child tributes that battle to the death in a dystopian future. The movies are based on the novels by Suzanne Collins.

The original "Hunger Games" film was released earlier this year. "Catching Fire" is scheduled to debut Nov. 22, 2013, followed by "Mockingjay ? Part 1" on Nov. 21, 2014, and "Mockingjay ? Part 2" on Nov. 20, 2015.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-11-01-Film-Hunger%20Games-Director/id-df653ac858f04475a3f497683197081b

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