E! Online Analyzes What’s Keeping Gary Ross From Catching Fire
“What the heck is going on with the Hunger Games sequel? Is the director really leaving? Isn’t that a huge mistake, to let Gary Ross go?”
Many fans have had similar questions after hearing all of the reports that director Gary Ross and Lionsgate are in tense negotiations for Catching Fire. E! Online answers this readers question with their analysis of why Ross is so hesitant to jump back into The Hunger Games franchise.
Indeed, both Ross and Lionsgate appear to be in a fight to the death. And as any good Hunger Games fan knows, there (usually) can be only one victor.
But as the beef continued to rot, we’ve learned it’s not just about money. Yes, Ross reportedly wants a raise.
But it’s also about “politics.”
What’s the code for? Well, says Ken Basin, an entertainment attorney at Greenberg Glusker, most likely, it’s about power, and, on a smaller scale, schedule.
“I definitely see this as code for control and how the creative process is going to play out,” Basin tells this B!tch. “The studio is asking to work on a very compressed schedule. They currently have a 4-month window to get a script ready, and Ross may not want to commit to a project whose script may not be very good.”
The latest rumblings in industry rags seem to suggest the same sticking point.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate wants Ross & Co. to return to the arena in August, so that star Jennifer Lawrence can wrap in time to shoot the sequel to X-Men: First Class in January.
Experienced directors are less likely to let themselves to be rushed like that, industry experts tell me. And Ross does have some freedom to negotiate; unlike Lawrence and the other principal actors, Ross was not locked down contractually to return for Catching Fire.
But if Ross does leave—and we should know very, very shortly—fans shouldn’t necessarily worry.
“In theory, if they bring in another director, they will bring someone cheaper,” Basin predicts. “Likely, someone who doesn’t have quite the level of experience or cache, someone willing to make more concessions.”
Translation: someone willing to work fast enough to get that sequel in the can before the end of the year. The movie might suffer creatively, but at least the franchise won’t lose heat. And that’s incredibly important, Basin points out—perhaps just as important as a halfway decent script.
“Ross has clearly shown he knows how to work with these actors and the source material, and you don’t want to part with that lightly,” Basin tells me. “But at the same time, Lionsgate needs to strike while the iron is hot. It’s not good for the franchise if fans have to wait three years until the next installment.”
I’m not sure that I am for sacrificing Catching Fire‘s creative development for the timing of it’s release… What do you think?
Do you side with Gary, and feel the movie may be too rushed? Or do you want to see the next installment as soon as you can?
source: E! Online
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- Gary Ross Not Yet Signed On To Direct Catching Fire
- VIDEO: The Schmoes Know on Gary Ross and Catching Fire
- OFFICIAL: Gary Ross Will Not Direct Catching Fire
Category: Catching Fire, Movie, News
I agree that you can’t rush creativity, especially on such a great material like the hunger games. i , myself prefer ross will finish what he started. but, if they have to replace ross, it should be somebody as good or even better, somebody who’s also an oscar calibre. it would be stupid on the lionsgate side to hire somebody cheaper, since ross has set a high standart in the first movie.
I agree completely!
same here, good point
I want a good movie that’s all I ask for.
I agree except that I hate when directors want more and more money. It’s all about greed. They should get someone who is good and not greedy.
Id rather have the movie be well done just like the last one
Me too!
Right now I hate Fox and their damn X-Men! This is what’s causing the problem. Lionsgate needs to deal with them somehow or we’re most likly going to get a rushed Catching Fire lacking something. I especially hope we don’t get a garbage director if Gary desides to leave. Right now it’s not looking too good for Catching Fire…..
Hopefully it all turns out okay.
You can’t rush Catching Fire!!!!!! There is so much that has to get covered. What is this guy talking about “It’s not good for the franchise if fans have to wait three years until the next installment.” What the hell? No one wants a rushed Cathing Fire! All the fans want it to be as close to perfect as possible. Any true fan would wait three years if it meant the movie would be perfect! I don’t want to wait that long, but I will to get a great Catching Fire. If they rush Catching Fire, they’ll just get less money because no one is going to like it.
Just Saying
-Sam
Well said Sam!
Catching Fire is my favorite book of the three. I really don’t want to see it watered down because it is rushed. But at least if it is rushed with Gary Ross it will be rushed with a good director.
Of course I can’t wait to see Catching Fire but I would rather watch a movie that was just as amazing as The Hunger Games was then get to watch Catching Fire sooner but have it suck!!!!! If Gary Ross decides to quit I hope they get a directer just as good. If they get a different director I hope the director doesn’t change to much like how the capitol looks.
It would not be a good idea to rush the creativity and filming behind catching fire, but I think it would be a worse idea to lose Gary. In the hands of someone else, we don’t know where the film could go. I think that Gary had such a specific vision for the world of the hunger games, that it would be a drastic change to bring in someone new– someone who is likely less experienced as a director. It could be awesome, but it’s a risk so it’s sort of scary. I say we keep Gary!
catching fire i think will need more time, especially with that annoying thing about the x-men. we should keep gary, but i admit he is being a little greddy and i really want him to get his butt into gear and write the script if he only has four months!
I think that Catching Fire is way too good of a book to be done cheaply. If they do it right, it could be a phenominal film. I don’t care what they do as long as they don’t skimp on the quality for the quantity!
I want the next movie soon, but if it means the movie is gonna suck, I can wait! I hope they keep Gary Ross, I think the movies would be completely different and at least we know that Gary can make a damn good movie! The movie needs to be done right, I honestly don’t think anyone but Gary Ross can do it, and get it right. Catching Fire is an amazing book, it shouldn’t be rushed. I do want the next movie to come out soon, and it feels like November 2013 is forever away, but I could wait. Especially if it means they are going to be cheap, have a not so great script, and rush it. Because if they do all those things, is not going to be worth watching.