If you’re a fan of the big screen exploits of Katniss and company there’s some bad news for you: director Gary Ross is leaving the franchise.

The Playlist is reporting that they’ve learned that he’s pulled out of the remaining two films and that it’s not totally a money issue. Yes, Lionsgate did lowball him in their first offer to come back but that’s a part of negotiations. The problem is that Ross likes to do different things. He essentially did go from the satire that was Pleasantville to the animal drama that was Seabiscuit to the action film The Hunger Games.

Plus, Ross has a lucrative screenwriting career. So he just doesn’t need The Hunger Games franchise, and apparently the first book was his favorite anyway. It’s a bit sad, because you always hope talent returns for sequels for the films. But if the desire isn’t there to make the next couple of films why force Ross into it?

Catching Fire is scheduled to shoot this fall and now Lionsgate needs a director for their large new franchise. [The Playlist]

catching fire, gary ross, the hunger games