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Francis Lawrence to Direct 'Red Rising' Sci-Fi Film for Paramount
· Confirmed
In Short: Francis Lawrence, known for directing 'The Hunger Games' franchise, will helm the adaptation of Pierce Brown's bestselling sci-fi series 'Red Rising' for Paramount.
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Francis Lawrence, known for directing 'The Hunger Games' franchise, will helm the adaptation of Pierce Brown's bestselling sci-fi series 'Red Rising' for Paramount Pictures.
According to Deadline, Paramount has acquired the rights to Pierce Brown's New York Times bestselling sci-fi book series 'Red Rising,' enlisting Lawrence to direct the adaptation of the first installment.
The film will follow Darrow, a Red miner living and working on Mars who discovers he and his peers are the slaves of a Gold ruling caste.
Lawrence will also produce the film, along with Cameron MacConomy.
The story is set in a future where society is color-coded, with Reds at the bottom and Golds at the top.
Lawrence's involvement with 'Red Rising' comes after his recent work on 'The Long Walk,' an adaptation of a Stephen King novel, and 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,' set for release on November 20.
Justin Rhodes, who worked with Lawrence on a never-produced adaptation of 'Bioshock,' will pen the script.
The 'Red Rising' series has sold over 6 million copies, although it's unclear whether that was in the U.S. or globally.
Lawrence is repped by CAA; Gretchen Rush at Hansen Jacobson; and ID.
The film will be produced by Paramount Pictures and is part of the studio's growing slate of young adult adaptations.
The series includes six books, with a seventh and final novel, 'Red God,' on the way.
Lawrence is also attached to direct several other projects, including 'Constantine 2' starring Keanu Reeves.
What this adds
Lawrence's attachment to 'Red Rising' marks his latest foray into dystopian sci-fi, following his work on 'The Hunger Games' franchise.
Background
Francis Lawrence, known for directing 'The Hunger Games' franchise, will helm the adaptation of Pierce Brown's bestselling sci-fi series 'Red Rising' for Paramount.
Red Rising is a 2014 dystopian science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown. It is the first book and eponym of the series.
What's confirmed
- Paramount has found its next big YA franchise, and it already has the perfect director attached.
- He's also co-written a Red Rising prequel comic book series, Red Rising: Son of Are s, with Rik Hoskin, drawn by Eli Powell and published by Dynamite Entertainment.
- He also has an adaptation of Christopher Golden's horror novel Carry Me to My Grave in the works, which he is hoping to direct.
- According to Deadline, Paramount Pictures has optioned the rights to Pierce Brown's bestselling sci-fi series, Red Rising.
- Red Rising follows Darrow, a "Red" miner living and working on Mars who discovers he and his peers are the slaves of a "Gold" ruling caste.
- Lawrence will also produce for about.blank, as will Cameron MacConomy.
- Justin Rhodes, who worked with Lawrence developing Netflix’s video game adaptation Bioshock, will pen the script.
- Lawrence, who has directed four entries in the “Hunger Games” franchise (with a fifth, “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” opening later this year) is now attached to an adaptation of “Red Rising,” the first book in Pierce Brown’s bestselling sci-fi book series, for Paramount.
- Justin Rhodes, who worked with Lawrence on a never-produced adaptation of videogame “Bioshock,” will adapt the novel.
- Lawrence is repped by CAA; Gretchen Rush at Hansen Jacobson; and ID.
- Lawrence most recently directed last year’s “The Long Walk” and this year’s “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping”.
- Paramount Pictures has picked up the film rights to Pierce Brown’s best-selling dystopian sci-fi novel series “Red Rising”.
What's still developing
- The Red Rising movie is officially in the works, and the director of The Hunger Games is taking the helm.
- Most recently, he inked a deal with the same studio for Carry Me to My Grave, an adaptation of a recently published horror novel by Christopher Golden that he’s eyeing to direct and produce.
- His Apple+ feature film Liminal, based on the graphic novel published by AWA, recently wrapped production with Vanessa Kirby and Yahya Abdul- Mateen II starring.
- Popular on Variety Lawrence is no stranger to adapting popular young adult novels.
- Lawrence got his start directing hundreds of iconic music videos over the years, but he transitioned into the world of film-making back in 2005 and 2007 with the releases of Constantine and I Am Legend.
- The film is inspired by the Stephen King novel of the same name, and after a successful run at the box office, The Long Walk has also gone on to become one of the most-watched movies of 2026 on streaming.
- "Children of Blood and Bone" is finished and opens January 15, 2027. sian Heder’s "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow," based on Gabrielle Zevin's novel, is shooting now with Daisy Edgar-Jones among the cast.
- A few months ago, Deadline reported that Woody Allen's next film, set in Madrid and carrying a $14M budget, will be "largely English-language" and feature a "high-profile cast."
- They swear there's no "schism," and promise a reunion is coming “soon.” Abdy and De Luca want real theatrical guarantees.