Lionsgate has finally found a the director for Catching Fire! According to THR,  Lionsgate has chosen Francis Lawrence to direct the Hunger Games sequel. He previously directed  the director of I Am Legend and Water for Elephants.

Sources say that Lawrence will receive an official offer this afternoon. If he accepts and a deal can be worked out, he will replace Gary Ross, who directed the first installment of the hugely successful franchise.

It was said that the studio chose between Lawrence and Moneyball director Bennett Miller.

Lawrence was deemed the frontrunner by observers simply because of his open schedule. Miller is working his way to a December start forFoxcatcher, a true-life project centering on John Du Pont that has been his focus for several years. Miller has even lined up Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo for the drama, and delaying it would have been a Herculean task.

Other directors on the shortlist of Catching Firecontenders were Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In, Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy),Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu (Babel), Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre) and Duncan Jones(Moon, Source Code).