‘Hunger Games’ Director Francis Lawrence Inks First Look Deal With Lionsgate

Hunger Games movie franchise director Francis Lawrence and his About:Blank Productions banner have signed a first-look production deal with Lionsgate.

With the Hunger Games series having generated nearly $3.7 billion in ticket sales worldwide for Lionsgate, Lawrence inked the producing deal with the major studio ahead of directing and producing The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the next film in the franchise.

The first look deal announcement was made by Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will go into production for Lionsgate in 2025, ahead of a planned worldwide release on Nov. 20, 2026.

Lionsgate has been keeping Lawrence and his producing partner Cameron MacConomy busy as they recently wrapped production on the studio’s The Long Walk, an adaptation of the Stephen King novel that stars Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson.

“Francis’ ability to marry incredibly compelling characters and emotions with exciting and visceral action and spectacle is exceptional. He’s also a thoughtful, committed partner. We are beyond excited to deepen our relationship,” Fogelson said in a statement on Wednesday.

Lawrence, screenwriter Michael Arndt and producer Nina Jacobson earlier teamed with Lionsgate on four film adaptations of earlier Suzanne Collins books — The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping film will follow The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes prequel movie and will mark the sixth Hunger Games movie from Jacobson’s Color Force since bringing the franchise to Lionsgate.

Lionsgate in 2012 debuted the first of four blockbuster movies based on Collins’ Hunger Games novels, and which starred Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to make Lionsgate my home,” said Lawrence in his own statement.

“This studio has put together a team of some of the smartest and most decent people I’ve worked with. We have a lot coming up with The Long Walk and Sunrise on the Reaping and there is so much more we have in mind going forward. This deal empowers Cameron and me to develop and tell new stories that excite us, and there’s nowhere we’d rather be than Lionsgate,” he added.

THR Newsletters