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Ever since Gary Ross, the director of "The Hunger Games," announced that he would not return to direct the remainder of the trilogy, the vacant director's chair for the film's sequel, "Catching Fire," has arguably become the most valued directing job in Hollywood.  After all, judging by the $212 million the first film made in just the opening weekend, it's clear that whoever was chosen to direct the next installment in the tale of Katniss Everdeen would be raking in a boatload of money.  

Well, this week the lucky winner has been revealed.  According to the Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate Films has announced that Francis Lawrence will be offered a deal to direct "Catching Fire."   Lawrence beat out some very tough competition to earn the job, including Bennett Miller, who directed last year's Oscar-nominated film "Moneyball," and Tomas Alfredson, director of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."  

Lawrence is an Austrian-born film director who first achieved success as a music video director, receiving a Grammy last year for directing Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" music video. "Catching Fire" will be the fourth movie Lawrence has directed, the three previous being "Constantine," "I Am Legend," and "Water For Elephants." 

With his experience in both action and romance films, hopefully he will be able to build on the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale established in the first film by Ross…and maybe he can get the cameramen to stop shaking the camera so much.  

Before leaving the production, Ross was working on a script with "Slumdog Millionaire" writer Simon Beaufoy.  It remains to be seen whether Beaufoy will continue to work with Lawrence or start over with a brand new writer.  Whatever decisions he makes, Lawrence better hit the ground running, because "Catching Fire" already has a release date: November 22, 2013.

Reach reporter Jeremy Fuster here.