Gary Ross might direct "Catching Fire" after all. That's the word from Deadline.com's Nikki Finke and Mike Fleming, who report that the "Hunger Games" director hasn't decided against working on its sequel, "Catching Fire."
On Friday, Indiewire's blog The Playlist exclusively reported that Ross had walked away from "Catching Fire" because of a desire to do something different with his next project. Ross and "Hunger Games" studio Lionsgate were also reportedly in the middle of a heated negotiating process; the director was paid $3 million plus a percentage of the backend for his work on "Hunger Games" and reportedly wanted a significant raise. To date, "The Hunger Games" has earned nearly $400 million worldwide.
Reached for comment by The Huffington Post on Friday, Ross' representatives said the was traveling at the moment and didn't have an official statement to pass along just yet.
Whether Ross returns or not, "Catching Fire," the second book in Suzanne Collins' "Hunger Games" trilogy, is set to begin shooting in late August or early September. This finished film is due in theaters on Nov. 22, 2013.
For more on Ross' "Catching Fire" negotiations and why he would likely return for the sequel, head over to Deadline.com.
[via Deadline.com]
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