Francis Lawrence is to direct the final instalments of 'The Hunger Games' movies.

The filmmaker - who is already helming the second motion picture in the series, 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' - will carry on his work to direct the third and final part of the popular trilogy entitled 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay', and Lionsgate have decided to split the big screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' novel into two parts.

'Big' director Gary Ross directed the first film, 'The Hunger Games', and was set to helm the sequel as well, however he walked away from the role as he believed he wouldn't have enough time to complete production ready for its November 2013 release.

Filming of 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' is currently taking place and it is expected Francis will move immediately on to parts one and two of 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay'.

Last month, it was revealed 'Game Change' director Danny Strong has been hired to write the final scripts, after competing against a host of other writers, including 'Cabin in the Woods' scribe Drew Goddard, to win the job.

The first film in the series - which stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson - grossed $685 million worldwide at the box office after its release earlier this year.

Part one of 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay' is due out on November 21, 2014 and Part two is set for November 20, 2015.