Earlier this year, we got the announcement that the film and novel series Hunger Games will see a prequel film that is set to be released in the next few years. While this was about half a year ago now, we are starting to receive more details about the film and how it will capture life during a much simpler time in the life or death games. Production members such as Nina Jacobson were present for New York Comic-Con to discuss the upcoming film, and said the film will come off much more simplistic than the original series everyone has come to know and love.
In the prequel film, being adapted and likely titled after the novel The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes, audiences will be sent over half a century into the past where it all began. The plot of the novel follows President Snow, played by Donald Sutherland, during a much earlier time in his career, serving as a mentor over a young girl before becoming the character he is known for in films such as Catching Fire, likely serving as a key focal point of the film. Taking place during just the 10th Hunger Games, viewers can expect to see a much more simplistic version of the hunger games. Jacobson said in her interview, “I think that the Hunger Games are considerably less glitzy than they ultimately become. So I think there’s a lot of fun in that and seeing what they used to be and that that will be interesting.” With the film so early in production not much is to be said in terms of casting or anything of the sort but it should be an interesting twist in an already incredibly successful series.
The story of a dystopian society with a game centered around fighting for one’s life, Hunger Games almost feels like an eerily foreshadowing of a coming future, making an addition to the series during this time only fitting. Excitement for the film is so high that production company Lionsgate even announced a film adaptation before the book even hit shelves, highlighting how beloved Suzanne Collins’ writing has become. While fan favorite Katniss Everdeen is sure to be absent from her film, many are hoping that Lucy Baird, the young girl Snow mentors during this time period, can fill her shoes admirably and continue to make the Hunger Game series one of the most successful in the world.
