Lionsgate is courting Simon Beufoy (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE) to adapted HUNGER GAMES follow-up CATCHING FIRE, reports Deadline.com. Gary Ross will return to direct. The original plan was for Ross to adapt the script with author Suzanne Collins, but the post-production crunch on the first film has made that impossible. Ross adapted HUNGER GAMES with Billy Ray. The first film in the planned series hits theaters on March 23, 2012.