'Hunger Games' director bows out of sequel

Gary Ross, director of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.'s “The Hunger Games,” dropped out of the sequel, clouding the future of a film franchise that has amassed $464 million in ticket sales in its first installment.

Ross, who cowrote the screenplay for “The Hunger Games,” was in talks to write and direct “Catching Fire,” the second of three or four movies planned by Lions Gate based on the teen novels by Suzanne Collins. He cited time constraints for the decision.

“I simply don't have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule,” Ross said in a joint statement with Vancouver-based Lions Gate.

Ross's exit leaves Lions Gate with the unexpected task of replacing the franchise's creative leader just as it gears up to follow the success of the first movie. Ross earned critical praise while delivering the third-biggest opening weekend of all time, helping to drive the independent studio's stock to a 52 percent gain this year.

Lions Gate didn't address the time frame for choosing a new director, or say whether the change will affect the release of “Catching Fire,” scheduled for Nov. 22, 2013.

“We're very sorry that Gary Ross has chosen not to direct Catching Fire,” Lions Gate said. “We were really looking forward to making the movie with him. He did an incredible job on the first film and we are grateful for his work.”