Fans are always passionate about book to film adaptations being as loyal as possible, and the filmmakers behind The Hunger Games franchise understand their concern.

However…

They’re adjusting your expectations nice and early in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, who yesterday released the first six photos from the film.

Director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobsen revealed that characters Bonnie, Twill, and Darius have been cut from the Catching Fire movie. So how did they make adjustments to key plot points? Lawrence said it “was fun figuring out new ways around things and new ways of doing things.” He’s of course referencing the change in how Katniss will learn of District 13, which was introduced to Katniss by Bonnie and Twill in Suzanne Collins’ book.

As for Darius, his removal means we won’t be introduced to District 12’s young peacekeeper. If you recall, he intervenes during Gale’s whipping by Romulus. Darius is then sentenced to life as an Avox. Despite Darius’ cut, we know that the punishment scene with Gale is indeed included in the film – we saw a photo of it yesterday. It’s uncertain at this time whether Darius will appear in Mockingjay when he is tortured for information. Given the Mockingjay book will be split into two films, one could assume they’ll use the additional screen time afforded to introduce him.

Jacobsen defended the cuts to EW and offered a silver lining: “It’s as agonizing for us to lose things from the book as it is for a fan,” she said. “I want every single thing in there. But you know what? If you have to give up something in order to give more time to Katniss and Gale or to Effie as she starts to feel a conscience, you make the sacrifices in order to serve the characters and themes that are more essential.”

Do you think these are fair Catching Fire changes?

Catching Fire opens in theaters November 22.