Our Picks for Catching Fire Director
There are certainly plenty of talented directors out there, many of whom surely can do justice to Catching Fire in Gary Ross‘s absence. The MyHungerGames staff has thought long and hard about it and we’ve each narrowed it down to our top three picks.
Hamilton:
Alfonso Cuarón: An amazing director with a superb eye for camera work. He has experience adapting gritty dystopian by way of Children of Men, as well as young adult fantasy with The Prisoner of Azkaban. He also seems to have a thing for clocks, as seen in his Harry Potter adaptation, which seems appropriate here. He could be a dangerous choice, as he is the type of director who likes to do his own thing, but as long as Suzanne Collins and Nina Jacobson keep a reign on creative license, I think Catching Fire could be taken to the next level through his artistic eye.
Joe Wright: The director of last year’s action thriller, Hanna. While he’s known in England, he’s yet to go mainstream Hollywood and this could be the perfect opportunity. In Hanna he shows he knows how to direct amazing action sequences with a powerful female lead as well as keep the interest and emotion up during scenes of dialogue. He also has a very keen visual and musical sense, judging by that film – two things Catching Fire needs.
Kathryn Bigelow: Admittedly, I am not too familiar with Bigelow’s work, but theoretically she seems like a good choice. She received much critical acclaim for her recent film The Hurt Locker which is a gritty and realistic war movie. She also directed the very bizarre and disturbing dystopian film, Strange Days, which has a cyberpunk vibe to it. It would also be interesting to have a woman director to handle the tale of Katniss.
Summer:
Sofia Coppola: I love the work she did on Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette. The way she translates everything through color is pretty brilliant. My favorite movie from her is Lost in Translation. She is very good at showing relationships develop in characters.
Len Wiseman: I love the action sequences he did in Live Free or Die Hard and the Underworld films. I think he would be the action director that we need for the film.
Luc Besson: He created the amazing action films The Fifth Element and The Professional. Those movies had both action and character development.
Kelsey:
Steven Soderbergh: Soderbergh worked as second unit on The Hunger Games, and is who we have to thank for the District 11 rebellion scene in the movie, the best and most emotionally charged part of the entire film in my opinion. Catching Fire and Mockingjay would benefit so much from that type of intensity, and we’ve already seen that Soderbergh understands how to give us that. Plus he is already a part of The Hunger Games franchise family!
Christopher Nolan: With Nolan’s work on the Batman franchise, we know he understands how to capture the essence of the story. Not only does he make the big picture come across, he creates it in a stunning way.
Alfonso Cuarón: I think Cuarón really understands how to make an epic, but still beautiful film. The Prisoner of Azkaban, his Harry Potter accomplishment, was the best movie, cinematographicly speaking, in that franchise in my opinion. Besides fantastical Harry Potter, he has experience in making great sci-fi projects just having done Gravity, from which he could potentially have an Oscar nomination.
Jacqui:
Just want to say there’s going to be a big difference between who it would be cool to see direct Catching Fire as opposed to who could realistically direct it…so I’ll offer my dream team.
Peter Jackson: I am a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy – both the books and the films. I loved how he made those epic books into epic films that stand on their own as well as being a fair representation of Tolkein’s work.
Steven Soderbergh: He’s already worked on The Hunger Games, doing the second unit work and was responsible for the revolution in District 11 sequence (one of my truly favourite moments in the film).
Danny Boyle: In so far as they have Simon Beaufoy writing the script for Catching Fire, it would be a nice mix to bring Danny Boyle, the director of Slumdog Millionaire on board. He clearly knows how to handle emotion and social turmoil and could really bring something different out in Catching Fire.
Audrey:
I’m not familiar with that many directors but I looked at who directed some of my favorite movies of this genre and here’s what I came up with:
Christopher Nolan
Steven Soderbergh
James Cameron
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What do you think of our choices? Be sure to voice your opinion on our poll!
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- Could a Small Screen Director Take Over Catching Fire?
- Catching Fire Director Poll: Who Can Take Over The Hunger Games?
- ‘Catching Fire’ Director Breakdown: Francis Lawrence and Bennett Miller
- VIDEO: Josh Hutcherson on Francis Lawrence as Director of Catching Fire
- RUMOR: Lawrence or Miller to be offered job of ‘Catching Fire’ Director
Category: Catching Fire, Movie
Hated the movie Hannah. I thought the plot was not properly moved along. The best thing was the closing line. The 3rd HP movie was shot beautifuly. It would translate well to shooting the Games. The Lord of the Rings was also well done. He would also be a sound choice. Although the arguments for switching to a T.V show director had some good points.
I wish Anthony Minghella was still alive. His work was terrific. Sam Mendes is a great director. Don’t forget that Cuaron also directed A Little Princess, one of the most beautiful movies ever filmed. Cary Fukunaga or Joe Wright would also work well. Guess I want a visually stunning, emotional film because that’s what all of these directors have in common.
The most important thing in my mind is to get someone who won’t blow it up into a sci-fi extravaganza. It needs a delicate touch and someone who won’t get carried away and lose the heart of the story.
Peter Jackson would be brilliant. He has proven he has an appreciation for preserving literary material and knows how to balance fans’ expectations vs. what’s necessary for movie making. Unfortunately (well, not really, I’m psyched he’s doing it), he’s tied up with The Hobbit and isn’t available.
An action or horror director would be a disaster.
I’m sorry, but Cameron’s ego and desire to build spectacle makes me axe him immediately. There needs to be some reflectiveness to this film and I just don’t believe Cameron has it in him.
Soderbergh could be a good choice, as he understands the tone and has worked with the cast and crew already.
I like the idea of the director of Winter’s Bone doing it (forgive me, I can’t remember her name). She has already worked with Jennifer and knows how to make an emotionally impactful film with a strong female lead. Not sure about the action sequences, but she would be able to expand Peeta’s character properly (God, he was under developed – as was Rue) and knows how to work with ensembles and build strong supporting characters (incredibly important for Catching Fire).
peter jackson, Alfonso Cuarón or Steven Soderbergh!!!
Alfonso Cuarón all the way, his movies are some of my all time favorites, id love to see him be the director of catching fire! who knows what kind of things he could do, and hes awesome with a camera
Alfonso Cuarón seems to be the clear front runner. i liked his H.P. film, and he has ‘big movie’ experience and know how to do good CGI effects. I’d just be worried that he’d want to put his own ‘artistic stamp’ on Catching, which it doesn’t need or do we want.
the person who did lord of the rings would be so cool! other than that i’d throw in steven spielburg to the list <3 best director ever
Steven Soderbergh, yes yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the way
Danny Boyle would be a good choice. I’ve enjoyed all the movies he has worked on. If only Peter Jackson wasnt so tied up with The Hobbit (which I am very excited about).