Lionsgate has confirmed that Academy Award-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy will pen the script for the sequel to the anticipated film ‘The Hunger Games,’ ‘Catching Fire,’ Hunger Games Movie is reporting. While the first installment in the franchise, which was scripted by the book series’ author, Suzanne Collins, as well as director Garry Ross and Billy Ray, won’t be released until March 23, 2012, work on the follow-up has already begun.

Ross, who is returning to helm ‘Catching Fire,’ is supervising the writing of the sequel’s script. The release date for ‘Catching Fire,’ November 22, 2013, was announced while its predecessor was still filming. Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson and Liam Hemsworth are all expected to return to the sequel.

Written by: Karen Benardello