The Hunger Games franchise could continue with one big caveat, say prequel creators
Nov. 14, 2023Exclusive: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes director and producer tell GamesRadar+ what the future of The Hunger Games franchise might look like
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AsThe Hunger Gamesfranchise returns with a new prequel movie, its director and producer are not ruling out more spin-offs. Nina Jacobson, who has worked as a producer on all of the films, and director Francis Lawrence, who helmed films two to four and the prequel, share their hopes and caveats about a return to Panem.
Speaking to GamesRadar+, Lawrence said he “absolutely” would love to return to the film franchise. “I mean I love being a part of the world, it’s really fun” he says. “I love working with Suzanne [Collins, author] and Nina, and just in general the world of The Hunger Games. So if she came up with something amazing and thematic, which is what she always does, then I’d love to be a part of it, definitely.”
Producer Jacobson echoed his sentiments, but added that there’s a big caveat: it will be dictated by what the author writes and if she has any fresh ideas. “I think Francis and I both feel like Suzanne has been the North Star, she’ll always be the North Star,” she adds. “If she has stories that she wants to tell, then we’d be thrilled to be part of that and to get to do it all over again, and I’d love to know what stories she still wants to tell. On the other hand, if she doesn’t, then I think that this movie works as a standalone, it’s meant to be a standalone, it is its own movie.”
To sum up, Jacobson concludes: “Would I be thrilled? Yes. Do we have any plans to do that in the absence of something from Suzanne? No.”
New prequelThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesis set 64 years before the original films, and follows the early life of Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth). Long before he became the tyrannical president of Panem, he was drafted into becoming a mentor for the 10th annual Hunger Games in a bid to save his family from destitution.
However, he gets more than he bargained for with his mentee, the defiant Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) from District 12, who he must do everything to help win and, more importantly, survive.
Currently, Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins doesn’t have any un-adapted novels in the franchise, but as Lawrence and Jacobson share, they’ll be waiting with bated breath.
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In the meantime, for more exclusive insight, check out what Lawrence had to sayabout the film’s lengthy runtime,his upcoming BioShock movie, and whatJacobson teased about its connection to the original films. Keep an eye on our website and theInside Total Filmpodcast this week too for even more.
I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I’ve also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.
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