Toby Jones Praises The Hunger Games' New Director

Toby Jones believes 'The Hunger Games' will benefit from a new director.

The actor - who plays commentator Claudius Templesmith in the franchise - says that 'Catching Fire' director Francis Lawrence, who replaces Gary Ross, will help evolve the franchise as he has a different vision from the director of the original smash hit film.

He told BANG Showbiz: ''I would say that it's got a different director with different sensibility. I think he'll want to bring his own mark to it. It's clichéd, but you want to respect the books that have been very successful but bring it on a bit.''

The actor added that he's a ''huge admirer'' of series star Jennifer Lawrence - who plays crossbow-wielding heroine Katniss Everdeen - because of her confidence both on and off screen.

He said: ''I was at the Golden Globes last weekend and I watched her get her award for 'Silver Linings Playbook', and I worked with her on a film called 'Serena' that's coming out this year. She is remarkable. It's not that she's uber-confident, or uber-flashy or arrogant, she's just an incredibly straightforward person.

''All of this [red carpet events] may seem natural for you [journalists], but it doesn't feel natural for actors. She handles it all with such an ease. She has some of that on screen. I'm a huge admirer of her.''

Toby admits, however, that compared to his co-star, his role in the series is far less stressful.

He explained: ''Every now and then, they ask me to come in and improvise with Stanley Tucci for an afternoon. They fly me off to America, I improvise for an afternoon - it's not the hardest, most taxing job. I'm very proud to be part of that because I think the books are tremendous. I know from my daughters they're compelling books. I'm very happy to represent what they read.''