Director Lawrence Talks The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Solid reviews aside, one of the common complaints about that original Hunger Games was its overuse of shaky cam.

One part stylistic choice by director Gary Ross, another part strategy so that the film could keep its PG-13 rating after including scenes of teenagers brutally killing one another for sport.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" director Francis Lawrence tells  New York Magazine that there won't be any in the sequel--saying that "I think a lot of people will be happy to hear that."

He also promises that the film will focus on the love triangle at the center of the story between Katniss, Peeta and Gale:

"I felt the love story in general was, um, a bit buried in the first one. I wanted to bring the love story to the surface. And when I say love story, I mean the triangle."

Thanks to a bigger budget, "Fire" will boast more CG: "I think the effects are phenomenal. If you know the book, there’s a monkey-mutt attack, and Weta, who did Rise of the Planet of the Apes and King Kong, did the monkeys for us."

The story begins as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a "Victor's Tour" of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow (Donald Sutherland) prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.

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. British actor Sam Claflin as District 4 representative Finnick Odair 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. Tony Shalhoub plays the inventor Volts. Lynn Cohen has been cast in the role of Mags. Patrick St. Esprit will play Romulus Thread Meta Golding has landed the role of Enobaria a tribute from District 2 who antagonizes Katniss and is known to be especially brutal and unrelenting. Bruno Gunn has been cast in the role of Brutus, a former Career victor from District 2. Maria Howell will portray District 11's female victor-tribute for the Third Quarter Quell, Seeder. E. Roger Mitchell ("Battle: Los Angeles," "S.W.A.T.") has joined the cast as Chaff Stephanie Leigh Schlund (The Last Song) has landed the role of Cashmere former winner from District 1 who proves to be a formidable foe to Katniss thanks to her partnership with her brother Gloss (Alan Ritchson) — they won their respective Hunger Games in consecutive years. Jeffrey Wright will play the role of Beetee.

Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz and Sutherland will return.

"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 Ross was attached to direct. Since Lawrence replaced Ross, a new script was commissioned.

"I Am Legend" and "Constantine" filmmaker Lawrence will helm rest of the pics including the 2 part series finale in The Hunger Games Film Franchise --the two film adaptation of the last book in author Suzanne Collins' trilogy - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1/The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.

Multi-award -winning "Game Change" and "The Butler" writer Danny Strong will pen those adapted scripts.

Catching Fire has a set release date of Nov. 22, 2013.