It might be tough to tell, so early out, if this news is good, bad, or simply an industry standard, but THR has learned that Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) will be doing a rewrite on the hotly-anticipated Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire. Now, you may recall Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) getting the job back in November, but sources indicate his work needs a bit of refurbishing — so it’s from one Oscar winner to the other.

But, going back to what was said above: I’m not worried. It could be assumed that the switch in directors, from Gary Ross to Francis Lawrence, has made Lionsgate reconsider their creative avenues — the choice of Beaufoy was, it seems, something the former helmer had a say in — and, if so, this is a scenario they could be handling much worse. If anybody should be worried, it’s Arndt; although a rewrite job obviously doesn’t require the same kind of legwork as a page-one assignment, he’ll have to do his thing at “double-time” for the movie to get before cameras this coming fall. When it comes to this franchise, well… you know what they say.

Catching Fire will open on November 22nd, 2013.

Are you happy to hear Arndt is possibly coming aboard, or are you worried about rewrites being commissioned?