Back in August, we brought you the news when Lionsgate announced that the film adaptation of the second book in Suzanne Collins’ bestselling trilogy, The Hunger Games on November 22, 2013. Now, just days after Lionsgate released the first full trailer for director Gary Ross‘ (Pleasantville) big-screen adaptation of the first novel, The Hunger Games starring Jennifer Lawrence as the story’s heroine Katniss Everdeen, the sequel’s production is already moving forward.

Deadline reports that the studio wants Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) to pen the script for Catching Fire. The site reports that director Gary Ross will indeed be returning for the sequel. Although the original plan was for Ross to pen the script with Suzanne Collins, as they did for the first film, Ross’ post production schedule on The Hunger Games made finding a new scribe for the sequel a necessity.

The Hunger Games is slated to hit theaters on March 23rd, 2012.

Catching Fire is slated to hit theaters on November 22nd, 2013.