ALFONSO CUARON, DAVID CRONENBERG Shortlisted For ‘HUNGER GAMES’ Sequel? I Just Came.

Jesus Christ. If I knew that Gary “Hey Don’t Vomit From My Camera Work” Ross leaving the Hunger Games  sequel meant that two of my favorite directors may have a crack at directing the sequel I never would have bellyached.

Slashfilm:

A search has begun in earnest for Ross’ replacement, and if the first three names we’ve heard are indicative of the direction that Lionsgate is going, Ross’ exit could actually end up being a blessing in disguise. Among the filmmakers supposedly in the mix are Alfonso Cuarón, David Cronenberg, and Alejandro González Iñárritu. Read more after the jump.

24 Frames has learned from a source that Lionsgate currently has a shortlist of about seven or eight directors, all male. While the publication has not revealed the identity of all of the contenders, the ones we know about offer some clues as to what Lionsgate is looking for. Cuarón, Cronenberg, and Iñárritu are all acclaimed, seasoned directors who are comfortable working with dark material. They’re all well known, but none are considered traditional blockbuster directors. Cuarón seems particularly indicative of the studio’s hopes, as he’s been in a very similar situation once before with excellent results: When he was tapped to replace Christopher Columbus for the third entry of the Harry Potter series, Cuaron attracted renewed interest from critics intrigued by the bold choice.

The insider spelled out a few other specific criteria from Lionsgate as well. In addition to exciting current fans, Lionsgate needs someone with enough experience and talent to please source material author Suzanne Collins, who’s less concerned with box office dollars than artistic integrity. Because the plan is to go into production by August, the new hire has to have the ability to work quickly while managing a huge cast and collaborating with Collins and writer Simon Beaufoy on the script. And they apparently want someone even-tempered, probably because getting a lot of work done in a short amount of time is much easier when the guy at the top isn’t having a hissy fit every five minutes.

I’m throwing the white and sticky everywhere over this. Please lord let it be Cuaron or Cronenberg.