The first part of The Hunger Games trilogy featured the writing talents of Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, and Billy Ray. Catching Fire, the second part (to be directed by Francis Lawrence), features a draft penned by Slumdog Millionaire screenwriter Simon Befouy and rewrites by Toy Story 3 scribe Michael Arndt. While it’s very likely that Lionsgate will hire a new director for Mockingjay, the studio has already hired a screenwriter to adapt the third and final part of The Hunger Games trilogy. Word is that Lionsgate is hiring Game Change and Recount wrtier Danny Strong to pen the draft for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & Part 2.

Variety’s report confirms that the studio will be changing writers for the third act of the trilogy. Strong, who has written two powerful political pieces for HBO Films, Recount and Game Change, has already turned in a script for Lee Daniel’s upcoming historical drama The Butler. Strong already has an impressive track record for writing quality scripts. His two political pieces have won a number of Emmys. Daniels’ is also using his script for the upcoming political drama The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker.

For the sake of spoilers, I will refrain from detailing what happens in Mockingjay. But like most adaptations, we can expect to see a few changes.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is scheduled for release on November 21, 2014, while The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is scheduled for a November 20, 2015 release.

[Source: Variety]