Last week, Lionsgate put to rest months of speculation that the final chapter of The Hunger Games will be split into two movies, confirming that The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 will arrive November 21, 2014, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 will be closing out the franchise on November 20, 2015. Today, we have word that Lionsgate is seeking a new director for this two-part finale.

Francis Lawrence is directing The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, after The Hunger Games director Gary Ross passed on the sequel in April. It is believed that, because of the quick production turnaround for the final two-part movie, Francis Lawrence will not be available.

It seems Lionsgate is following the same footsteps as Summit Entertainment's The Twilight Saga, employing a different director for each movie to ensure they have a new installment in theaters every year until the franchise is over.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins production this fall, with a November 22, 2013 release date already set. It's rather ironic, given the franchise's title, that Lionsgate is setting this franchise up for a Thanksgiving weekend opening every year, until 2015.