The Hunger Games Looks for a Director; Opts for a PG-13 Rating
Posted 08.31.10 by reelz
Now that Mockingjay — the third and final book in Suzanne Collins' bestselling Hunger Games trilogy — has been published, fans have turned their attention to the in-progress adaptation of the first book, The Hunger Games.
Movie studio Lionsgate has opted for a PG-13 rating for the dystopian story, which should just about be doable. Fans of the book will recall main character Katniss's involvement in the televised Hunger Games, which saw 24 contestants in a fight to the death. There can only be one winner in Collins's brutal story of war, which made for an action-packed but violent read.
Collins wrote a draft of the movie script, with Billy Ray (State of Play) stepping in to polish it off. Now the search is on for a director, thanks to the movie's expected production start in early 2011.
Producer Nina Jacobson said of the New York Times Bestseller:
What Suzanne managed in the book is to explore violence and exploitation without it feeling exploitive or guilty of its own themes. It’s critical… it pulls off being commentary and a really gripping page-turner at the same time.
She then spoke about the movie, saying it "should absolutely be rated PG-13."
It would be wrong to make the R-rated version of it. The situations are so intense and frightening; it’s just going to be a matter of creating suspense. The power of movies can be just as much about what you don’t see as what you do.
So, Hunger Games fans, what are your thoughts on the PG-13 rating? Without all the added violence, will the movie have the same feel as the book? And who do you think is the right director for the job? Let us know your picks below.