So now it is official and Gary Ross has walked away from directing the sequel of Catching Fire because the production schedule was too tight.

Here’s what he said:

As a writer and a director, 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.

Funny, that seems to be pretty close to what Catherine Hardwicke said when she broke up with Summit after Twilight. Nobody has made the claim that he was “difficult” or “irrational” which is what Hardwicke was called after she wanted more time for the Twilight sequel. What’s so interesting is that Hardwicke later said that she had the right of first refusal in her contract so she couldn’t be fired, but that didn’t stop all the nasty press.

The studio needs to get Catching Fire started — and soon — because Jennifer Lawrence is shooting the X-Men sequel in January.

Since this is going to be approx a $100 million budgeted film, I think that getting a female director hired to helm it will be hard since, of course, Hollywood still thinks that women can’t direct big budget films.

But it doesn’t hurt to dream, so let’s take a moment to ponder the female directors we would like to see directing Catching Fire. My first choice would be Patty Jenkins who almost directed Thor 2.

Other ideas?

Gary Ross Decides NOT To Direct ‘Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire’: Lionsgate Shocked (Deadline)

Citing Scheduling Constraints, Gary Ross Officially Not Directing Hunger Games Sequel (Movieline)