The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes | November 17, 2023 | Prequel about President Snow | Francis Lawrence to direct

[Wormow]

Quote

A decade after seemingly wrapping up "The Hunger Games," Suzanne Collins is bringing readers back to Panem. A prequel, set 64 years before the beginning of her multimillion-selling trilogy, is coming next year.

The novel, currently untitled, is scheduled for release on May 19, 2020. Collins said in a statement Monday that she would go back to the years following the so-called "Dark Days," the failed rebellion in Panem. Collins set the "Hunger Games" books in a post-apocalyptic dystopia where young people must fight and kill each other, on live television.

"With this book, I wanted to explore the state of nature, who we are, and what we perceive is required for our survival," she said. "The reconstruction period 10 years after the war, commonly referred to as the Dark Days — as the country of Panem struggles back to its feet — provides fertile ground for characters to grapple with these questions and thereby define their views of humanity."

The book is set well before the lifetime of "Hunger Games" heroine Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence in the billion-dollar movie franchise. Scholastic spokesperson Tracy van Straaten declined comment on the new book's contents or featured characters beyond what's described in Monday's announcement.

"Suzanne Collins is a master at combining brilliant storytelling, superb world building, breathtaking suspense, and social commentary," Scholastic Trade Publishing President Ellie Berger said in a statement. "We are absolutely thrilled — as both readers and publishers — to introduce the devoted fans of the series and a new audience to an entirely new perspective on this modern classic."

 

Lionsgate released the four "Hunger Games" movies, and the studio's vice chair, Michael Burns, has suggested a prequel. In a recent statement to The Associated Press, Lionsgate chair Joe Drake said, "As the proud home of the 'Hunger Games' movies, we can hardly wait for Suzanne's next book to be published. We've been communicating with her during the writing process and we look forward to continuing to work closely with her on the movie." The studio did not immediately respond when asked if an agreement for film rights had already been reached.

The first three "Hunger Games" books — "The Hunger Games," ''Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay" — have sold more than 100 million copies and have been translated into more than 50 languages. The very title "The Hunger Games" has become a catchphrase for suffering and deadly competition, inspiring such headlines as "Trump's $1 trillion (infrastructure) plan inspires 'Hunger Games' angst."

Although she was actively involved with the production of the "Hunger Games" films, Collins appeared done with the novels after the publication of "Mockingjay," in 2010. She had said little about her plans in recent years, beyond telling a gathering at the 2013 BookExpo publishing convention that she was working on a new series. Her most recent book, of any kind, came out in 2013: The picture story "Year of the Jungle" was based on the time in Vietnam served by Collins' father, a career Air Force officer.

I've reached out to sources who can confirm that there are early talks for a movie as well (though based off the comments in the press release, this shouldn't be a surprise). Looks like it's actually happening. 

 

Producer of THG movies Nina Jacobson just tweeted "looks like the cat is finally out of the bag" 

 

 

Edited June 15, 2022 by Wormow

[eddyxx]

[TMP]

It was only a matter of time

[CoolioD1]

honestly can see under 100mil for this. the franchise and the YA dystopia trend both feel past it.

Edited June 17, 2019 by CoolioD1

[filmlover]

This is how Disney keeps winning over everybody else.

[Darth Lehnsherr]

Not surprised 

[TMP]

9 minutes ago, filmlover said:

This is how Disney keeps winning over everybody else.

weird flex, but ok

[Morieris]

....Oh, so I'm the only one excited.

 At least for the book. They can keep the movie.

 

[The Horror of Lucas Films]

I'm here for this, with a bit of nostalgia this can be huge.

[ZeeSoh]

I would have preferred a novel or a series perhaps that tells the story of how the war came to be, the war itself and then the aftermath including the first hunger games. 

 

Regardless, Lionsgate will be popping of the champagne today. 

[DAJK]

If they make this I just hope it’s good. Would be a shame if people stop remembering this franchise for the bahemoth of the early 2010’s that it was

[John Marston]

Hunger Games was a fad. Does anyone even remember it these days?

 

 

 

still these movies can actually be decently profitable if they keep the budgets low. Like in the 50m range 

[Claudio]

Great idea for the novel to keep the brand alive and Satisfy the fanbase reader with more stories. But a big NO if they somehow want to bring it back to the big screen. There’s a reason why YA novel adaptation genre dying now , let alone this one where there won’t be fan favorite original character and the arena anymore. No hook + novelty will keep many people or even fans away from buying an admission.

[Lucas]

Uh oh

[Valonqar]

3 hours ago, CoolioD1 said:

honestly can see under 100mil for this. the franchise and the YA dystopia trend both feel past it.

this. YA is a dead genre and interest in THG collapsed with Mockingjay splitting. A prequel nobody needed.

 

I'm still shocked how MJ fizzled after the heights reached by THG and CF. it's as if the audience lost interest overnight. 

[Into the Legion-Verse]

They should adapt Gregor the Overlander instead, it’s the superior Collins series anyway 

[The Horror of Lucas Films]

3 hours ago, John Marston said:

Hunger Games was a fad. Does anyone even remember it these days?

 

 

 

still these movies can actually be decently profitable if they keep the budgets low. Like in the 50m range 

 

How do you know if people remember it or not? This franchise has been finished for 4 years, why the hell would people keep discussing it as if it was producing a new movie every year? This argument makes no sense, it's like me saying that LOTR was a fad, because I don't see people talking about it these days.

[The Horror of Lucas Films]

1 hour ago, Valonqar said:

this. YA is a dead genre and interest in THG collapsed with Mockingjay splitting. A prequel nobody needed.

 

I'm still shocked how MJ fizzled after the heights reached by THG and CF. it's as if the audience lost interest overnight. 

 

That's what you receive for focusing in building a complex story instead of giving the mediocrity storytelling that people came to expect from blockbuster these days.

[Valonqar]

3 minutes ago, The Horror of Lucas Films said:

 

That's what you receive for focusing in building a complex story instead of giving the mediocrity storytelling that people came to expect from blockbuster these days.

eh, Mockingjay was by far the weakest storytelling of THG books. too much focus on Katniss being followed by TV cameras. too much Katniss being frustrated cause she can't do shit. too much fuckin Gale. the last minute switch from one villain to another. also, the book was a proof how much Capitol glitz and glamour was part of the series appeal. the drab of the Rebellion not so much. at least the movies included Effie who was absent from the book til a footnote near the end or something. 

[dudalb]

I so am so not interested in either the novel or potential film.

But it will make a lot of money no doubt. I got better things to do with my time.

 

 

Edited June 17, 2019 by dudalb