Andrew Adamson (“The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe”), Rupert Sanders (Brit commercial director) and Susanna White (“Nanny McPhee Returns,” “Generation Kill”) have joined the previously announced trio of Sam Mendes, David Slade and Gary Ross (“Pleasantville,” “Seabiscuit”) as contenders to direct the first installment of the gestating Lionsgate trilogy, “Hunger Games.”
Based on the novels by Suzanne Collins with a fresh re-write done by Billy Ray (“Shattered Glass,” “Breach”), the story follows “Katniss Everdeen, an enterprising 16-year old from a poor territory that was once Appalachia, who becomes a teen gladiator in a reality show event that is a battle to the death against other teens from the 12 districts that make up what is left of the USA, which is run by a cruel totalitarian government.”
According to Deadline, “they could expand the field–Francis Lawrence seems a late candidate” though it’s unclear if he’s also in the running or not. Our guess as to why these three lesser-known directors are being considered? They probably will be a helluva lot cheaper than either Mendes, Slade or Ross. A decision is expected to come soon.
