Francis Lawrence

Biography

Francis Lawrence was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1971 and moved with his family to Los Angeles when he was very young. He earned a bachelor’s degree in film production at Loyola Marymount University. Early in his career he directed music videos for major artists like Shakira, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and the Backstreet Boys. He also directed commercials for big brands. His feature film debut was Constantine (2005), followed by I Am Legend (2007) and Water for Elephants (2011). Lawrence is perhaps best known for directing several films in The Hunger Games franchise, including Catching Fire, Mockingjay – Part 1 & Part 2, and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. He also directed the spy thriller Red Sparrow (2018) and most recently Slumberland (2022). Through his work he has become known for combining striking visuals with strong storytelling in large-scale studio films. He continues to direct and produce, with upcoming projects including The Long Walk and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.