There has been a lot of news surrounding “The Hunger Games” franchise over the weekend, so here is a recap to get you caught up:The Reign Is Over. After four stellar weeks in first place at the domestic box office, the film was finally bumped from the top by the debut of “Think Like a Man” ($33 million). “THG” brought in $14.5 million over the three-day span. It isn’t all bad for the film however, as the domestic total is now $356.9 million—which puts the film 19th on the all-time list. Thanks to BoxOfficeMojo for the figures.IMAX All Over Again. “The Hunger Games” is coming back to IMAX theaters for a one-week run starting April 27th. According to IMAX and Lionsgate, the film will show in as many as 100 theaters. The initial week for IMAX showings brought in just over $13 million, so we’re guessing that the film will do well once again in the IMAX format.“Catching Fire” Appears to Have a Director. With Gary Ross having bowed out of the sequel, “Catching Fire,” and a November 2013 release date already scheduled, Lionsgate had to move fast on a new director. And, according to THR, the choice is Francis Lawrence (Water For Elephants, I Am Legend). Lawrence has shown the ability to deliver on a high budget, new world reality (I Am Legend), so he seems a reasonable choice. The problem for “Catching Fire” is there isn’t a finished screenplay, and with principal photography scheduled for this fall, someone better get writing. There is a LOT of material to fit into “Catching Fire,” so the screenplay is even more important for the sequel than it was for “The Hunger Games.”Josh Hutcherson Honored. The 23rd media awards for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) were held Saturday night, and Josh Hutcherson picked up the Vanguard Award. The award honors efforts to increase visibility of the gay and lesbian community. Hutcherson is the youngest winner of the award, which he won for his work with the anti-bullying campaign Straight But Not Narrow.
