Hunger Games franchise filmmaker Francis Lawrence has signed a first-look producing deal with Lionsgate via his label about:blank.
Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair, made the announcement Wednesday.
Lawrence and his about:blank producing partner Cameron MacConomy recently finished production on Lionsgate’s The Long Walk, the feature take of the Stephen King novel starring Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson.
It was a year ago that Lawrence’s prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes opened, ultimately grossing close to $350 million worldwide and sending the Lionsgate feature series based on the Suzanne Collins novels to $3.7 billion in global tickets sales.
“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,” said Fogelson. “We are beyond excited to deepen our relationship.”
“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to make Lionsgate my home,” said Lawrence. “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.”
With the director’s deal to direct and produce The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the next film in the series, now closed, Lawrence is prepping work on that project. Cameras will roll next year for a global release that’s scheduled for November 20, 2026.
