Lionsgate is taking us back to Panem with a “Hunger Games” prequel movie. The film will be an adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ 2020 release, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” The announcement regarding the adaptation was made by Chairman Joe Drake during the company’s quarterly earnings call with analysts.
The new “Hunger Games” prequel is currently in pre-production, and hopes to start production in the first half of 2022. Collins will write the film’s treatment and former “Catching Fire” writer Michael Ardnt will adapt the screenplay. Also returning to the franchise is director Francis Lawrence.
The franchise’s previous 4 films brought in nearly $3 billion worldwide. The company holds a positive outlook for the new movie’s box office release.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows 18 year old future Panem president, Coriolanus Snow. The story takes place during the 10th Hunger Games, in which Snow is assigned to mentor a Hunger Games participant from District 12.
When the book was first announced, fans were both excited and anxious about what they would receive. Some even speculated that it was just a cash-grab project. After its release, the opinions were equally split between “loved it” and “why?”
The book was widely seen as a villain redemption arc, which was disappointing to some. Having read it myself, I feel that it was less about Snow and more of an origin story about how Panem came to be as we know it from the original trilogy.
It will be interesting to see which direction the ‘Hunger Games’ prequel adaptation takes the story. Especially since the previous movies have been among some of the best book to movie adaptations to-date.
As of now, no casting information has been revealed. Lionsgate projects the film’s release date to be between their late 2023 and early 2024 fiscal years.
With at least 2 years before the movie is released, you still have time to read it! Pick up a copy over on Amazon here.
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