It has been quite a three days for Ross. On Friday, Indiewire's blog The Playlist exclusively reported that the director had stepped away from negotiations with Lionsgate, not because of any monetary strife, but because Ross wanted to do something different for his next film. That was countered by Deadline.com's Nikki Finke and Mike Fleming, who wrote on Saturday that Ross hadn't stepped away, and that Lionsgate wanted him to return but for a reasonable price.
PHOTOS: 10 Directors Who Could Replace Gary Ross on "Catching Fire"
Michael Bay
Why He Should Do It: No one does big action better than Michael Bay (true), and "Catching Fire" is filled with big action. Why He Shouldn't Do It: He'll have Jennifer Lawrence running around in a string bikini and hire Victoria's Secret angels as the new Tributes.
Kathryn Bigelow
Why She Should Do It: Forget gender: Kathryn Bigelow is one of the best action directors in Hollywood. She could bring a gritty realism to "Catching Fire" that even Gary Ross lacked in "The Hunger Games." One question: can she do PG-13? Why She Shouldn't Do It: She's too busy doing real movies, like that one about killing Osama Bin Laden.
Daniel Espinosa
Why He Should Do It: Real talk: "Safe House" might have been the best pure action movie to come out in five years. Why He Shouldn't Do It: Espinosa's got the frenetic shaky-cam thing down cold, but can he actually do anything with characters?
Paul Greengrass
Why He Should Do It: Speaking of shaky-cam! Paul Greengrass invented that thing! Let him get out there in the arena with his handheld camera and bring the motion-sickness pills. Why He Shouldn't Do It: Everyone loves the Jason Bourne movies, but aren't they kinda a little boring?
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Jack Bender
Why He Should Do It: From Beetee -- who is basically described as Ben Linus -- to Finnick and Johanna, "Catching Fire" plays out like an extended episode of "Lost." Who better then but frequent "Lost" director Jack Bender to take the reins on this one? Why He Shouldn't Do It: Bender isn't a big name, and he's never helmed something as large as "Catching Fire." He does look like Greengrass, though.
David Yates
Why He Should Do It: David Yates directed the final four Harry Potter films with a yeoman's effort, and his steady hand would probably work well in calming the inevitable nerves of everyone involved in "Catching Fire." Why He Shouldn't Do It: Love "The Hunger Games" and all, but it's no "Harry Potter." Can you drive a Toyota after driving a Bentley? (Get it, because he's British!)
Gavin O'Connor
Why He Should Do It: Gavin O'Connor brought great emotion to "Warrior," a tricky move since the film was about ultimate fighting. He could do the same for "Catching Fire," ratcheting up the emotion where Ross did not. Why He Shouldn't Do It: Like Bender, he's never been involved in something this big. Unlike Bender, he doesn't have the readily visible action chops.
Doug Liman
Why He Should Do It: Because Doug Liman is kinda crazy and awesome and will have Lionsgate executives pulling their hair out. Why He Shouldn't Do It: Because Doug Liman is kinda crazy and awesome and will have Lionsgate executives pulling their hair out.
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David Fincher
Why He Should Do It: David Fincher already brought one of the strongest female heroines of the last decade to the big screen with "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," so why not another? Why He Shouldn't Do It: Would Fincher's notoriously finicky style translate to a massive action spectacle? "Take 105, Jennifer!"
Terrence Malick
Why He Should Do It: With its lush nature shots and moments of silence, "The Hunger Games" looked like a Terrence Malick movie. Let's get him on board for part two! Why He Shouldn't Do It: Lionsgate wants this thing out in November of 2013, not 2023.
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