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'Catching Fire' Director: Alfonso Cuaron, David Cronenberg And Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu On Reported Shorlist

'Hunger Games' Sequel Gets Reported Director Shortlist
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By 

Managing Entertainment Editor, The Huffington Post

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"Catching Fire" needs a director ... and fast! The sequel to the worldwide smash "The Hunger Games" starts filming in August with a scheduled release date set for November of 2013. That means Lionsgate must replace the departed Gary Ross as soon as yesterday. Well, according to the Los Angeles Times, the studio already has a shortlist of eight directors, including at least one former "Harry Potter" helmer.

Per the Times blog 24 Frames, Alfonso Cuaron is one of the wanted replacements. The acclaimed filmmaker directed "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," the third film in the multi-billion dollar franchise, and is credited with setting up the visual template for the later films in the series. Cuaron would help Lionsgate not only smooth over any fan anger over Ross' exit, but also please "Games" author Suzanne Collins. The Times reports that Collins wants a "quality" director to handle the sequel.

Cuaron -- whose next film is the highly anticipated feature "Gravity" with George Clooney and Sandra Bullock -- isn't the only fancy name on the list. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu ("Babel") and David Cronenberg (!) are also mentioned by 24 Frames. Inarritu is friends with Cuaron (the Mexican-born director received a special thanks credit on Cuaron's "Y Tu Mama Tambien") and has a strong reputation. Cronenberg is Cronenberg, one of the most beloved visual artists of the lat twenty years.

No word yet on the other five names on the list, but apparently none are female. Sorry, Kathryn Bigelow fans!

For more on the search to replace Gary Ross, head over to the Los Angeles Times. For other suggestions to take over "Catching Fire," check out the slideshow below.

[via LAT/24 Frames]

Who Should Direct 'Catching Fire'?
Michael Bay(01 of10)
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Why He Should Do It: No one does big action better than Michael Bay (true), and "Catching Fire" is filled with big action.Why He Shouldn't Do It: He'll have Jennifer Lawrence running around in a string bikini and hire Victoria's Secret angels as the new Tributes. (credit:Getty)
Kathryn Bigelow(02 of10)
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Why She Should Do It: Forget gender: Kathryn Bigelow is one of the best action directors in Hollywood. She could bring a gritty realism to "Catching Fire" that even Gary Ross lacked in "The Hunger Games." One question: can she do PG-13?Why She Shouldn't Do It: She's too busy doing real movies, like that one about killing Osama Bin Laden. (credit:Getty)
Daniel Espinosa(03 of10)
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Why He Should Do It: Real talk: "Safe House" might have been the best pure action movie to come out in five years.Why He Shouldn't Do It: Espinosa's got the frenetic shaky-cam thing down cold, but can he actually do anything with characters? (credit:Getty)
Paul Greengrass(04 of10)
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Why He Should Do It: Speaking of shaky-cam! Paul Greengrass invented that thing! Let him get out there in the arena with his handheld camera and bring the motion-sickness pills.Why He Shouldn't Do It: Everyone loves the Jason Bourne movies, but aren't they kinda a little boring? (credit:Getty)
Jack Bender(05 of10)
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Why He Should Do It: From Beetee -- who is basically described as Ben Linus -- to Finnick and Johanna, "Catching Fire" plays out like an extended episode of "Lost." Who better then but frequent "Lost" director Jack Bender to take the reins on this one?Why He Shouldn't Do It: Bender isn't a big name, and he's never helmed something as large as "Catching Fire." He does look like Greengrass, though. (credit:Getty)
David Yates(06 of10)
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Why He Should Do It: David Yates directed the final four Harry Potter films with a yeoman's effort, and his steady hand would probably work well in calming the inevitable nerves of everyone involved in "Catching Fire."Why He Shouldn't Do It: Love "The Hunger Games" and all, but it's no "Harry Potter." Can you drive a Toyota after driving a Bentley? (Get it, because he's British!) (credit:Getty)
Gavin O'Connor(07 of10)
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Why He Should Do It: Gavin O'Connor brought great emotion to "Warrior," a tricky move since the film was about ultimate fighting. He could do the same for "Catching Fire," ratcheting up the emotion where Ross did not.Why He Shouldn't Do It: Like Bender, he's never been involved in something this big. Unlike Bender, he doesn't have the readily visible action chops. (credit:Getty)
Doug Liman(08 of10)
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Why He Should Do It: Because Doug Liman is kinda crazy and awesome and will have Lionsgate executives pulling their hair out.Why He Shouldn't Do It: Because Doug Liman is kinda crazy and awesome and will have Lionsgate executives pulling their hair out. (credit:Getty)
David Fincher(09 of10)
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Why He Should Do It: David Fincher already brought one of the strongest female heroines of the last decade to the big screen with "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," so why not another?Why He Shouldn't Do It: Would Fincher's notoriously finicky style translate to a massive action spectacle? "Take 105, Jennifer!" (credit:Getty)
Terrence Malick(10 of10)
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Why He Should Do It: With its lush nature shots and moments of silence, "The Hunger Games" looked like a Terrence Malick movie. Let's get him on board for part two!Why He Shouldn't Do It: Lionsgate wants this thing out in November of 2013, not 2023.

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