Will Gary Ross direct 'The Hunger Games'?

There is a chance Gary Ross will end up directing "The Hunger Games." He is Lionsgate's pick, and although no deal has been set in place yet, he's apparently about to kick off negotiations with the studio.

Deadline reports Ross is the top candidate for the job. Lionsgate met with a bunch of directors recently, including Sam Mendes, David Slade and Andrew Adamson. Billy Ray penned the most recent script.

The film is obviously based on the popular book series by Suzanne Collins. It's a futuristic tale about a North America in which teenagers are forced to participate in deadly battles against each other.

As for Ross, he's an Oscar-nominated filmmaker whose credits include "Pleasantville" and the fabulous "Seabiscuit." Two projects he's involved with now are "The Free State of Jones" and "The Crusaders."