Claflin Goes Into "Overdrive" Catching Fire As Finnick

Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke are joining the European car heist thriller "Overdrive" says Variety.

The story centers around two American brothers who decide to take their careers as car thieves to the next level by fleeing to France, where they run afoul of a dangerous black marketeer.

Karl Urban co-stars

Michael Brandt and Derek Haas ("Wanted") the script from which "Transit" director Antonio Negret's calling action.

Pierre Morel is producing the pic.

Production kicks off in Marseilles this summer.

Meantime Variety reoprts that Claflin, Melissa Leo and Tony Shalhoub are up for key roles in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire". They would play trident-wielding tribute Finnick Odair, the veteran tribute Mags, and the inventor Volts respectively.

"Slumdog Millionaire" scribe Simon Beaufoy had signed on to originally go ahead and adapt author Suzanne Collins' next novel in the series a while back when Gary Ross was attached to direct. Since Francis Lawrence has replaced Ross, a new script was commissioned.

Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, the new Gamemaker at the Capitol after Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) was executed. Plutarch is a far savvier political animal and plays a crucial role in the events of Catching Fire. Jena Malone has won the role to play the strong-willed tribute Johanna Mason. Amanda Plummer will play Wiress who has the nickname “Nuts” due to her eccentricity--she “doesn’t communicate traditionally, her observations and contributions prove invaluable in the Quarter” (aka the 75th Hunger Games) ceremony though.

Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz and Donald Sutherland are expected to return.

Things need to move at a quickend pace since Catching Fire already has a set release date of Nov. 22, 2013, and needs to finish shooting by December so that star Jennifer Lawrence can start work on Fox's in-development as yet Untitled X-Men First Class Sequel in January.

Finally director Lawrence will NOT helm The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1/ The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 says Variety.

Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate are now looking for a new director for the finale as Lawrence will not be available. Already under pressure to get the second film out in double quick time, the quick turnaround for the finale 2-fer is the reason he won't be return.

 Part 1 opens November 21st 2014 while Part 2 hits November 20th 2015.