‘Catching Fire,’ the anticipated sequel to the hit film ‘The Hunger Games,’ is scheduled to shoot in Atlanta this summer through winter, The Buzz is reporting. The film, the second in the ‘Hunger Games’ trilogy, will film July through December in metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas. The sequel will complete shooting in December so that star Jennifer Lawrence can begin filming the ‘X-Men: First Class’ sequel in January 2013.

‘The Hunger Games,’ unlike ‘Catching Fire,’ was filmed in North Carolina. But the cast did visit Atlanta during a press tour prior to the film’s release.

The news comes after casting rumors about who will be joining Lawrence in ‘Catching Fire,’ which is based on the second novel in Suzanne Collins’ best-selling young adult novel series, began to surface. Armie Hammer and Garrett Hedlund are reportedly the two lead contenders to be cast as Finnick Odair, after Taylor Kitsch and Robert Pattinson dismissed rumors they were in the running.

‘Catching Fire’ also garnered attention when ‘The Hunger Games’ director Gary Ross confirmed he wouldn’t be returning to helm the sequel. ‘Water For Elephants’ director Francis Lawrence took over the helming reins for ‘Catching Fire,’ which is set to hit theaters on November 22, 2013.

Written by: Karen Benardello