I loved making 'The Hunger Games' - it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results.

Ross took on the high-profile project of co-adapting and directing the film adaptation of the first book in Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy. He went on to write several other successful films including Mr. Co-written with his neighbor Anne Spielberg (sister of Steven) it led to an Academy Award nomination and a Writers Guild of America Award.

Gary Ross (born November 3 1956) is an American writer director and actor. Big was his first produced script. Although the movie was financially and critically successful Ross opted to not adapt or direct the sequels citing his focus on the first film in the series as his main reason.