Simon Beaufoy writing Catching Fire

Last November we heard that Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar winning screenwriter of Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours, was the top contender to write the script for The Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire.

Now The Wrap has confirmed that Beaufoy has already started work on the script with supervision from Gary Ross, who will be returning to direct the next fim.

Lionsgate have already set a November 22, 2013 release date for the sequel, so if the first film is a success in March they could move forward with filming before the end of the year.

Below is the synopsis for Catching Fire, which contains potential spoilers so non-book readers beware.

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark both survived the Hunger Games. Both returned home wanting and expecting a somewhat peaceful future. But the Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

When rumors of a rebellion that she started reach Katniss’s ears, everything changes. Now, as Peeta and Katniss are forced to visit the districts on the mandatory Victory Tour, everything can and might go wrong—if Katniss and Peeta cannot pull off their act as two madly-in-love teenagers. If they fail, everything they’ve worked for will be gone.

You can watch the trailer for The Hunger Games, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson, below: