In case you don’t know yet, there will be a “The Hunger Games” prequel movie, titled “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” premiering in theaters this November. What a way to celebrate the Thanksgiving season, right? Now, not yet even showing, an entertainment writer weighs in on the possibility of more spinoffs after this movie.
‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’
The second part of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay,” the last part of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy novel, from where the movies were based, was seen in 2015. But sadly, for those who thought Collins would never write a new “The Hunger Games” novel (just like how “Harry Potter’s” J. K. Rowling did not anymore write a new book after “Deathly Hallows), they were wrong. In 2020, Collins wrote a new novel – still based on “Hunger Games,” of course – titled “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Soon, worldwide audiences will be able to see its movie adaptation.
“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” takes it from Collins’ 2020 novel, which serves as a prequel to “The Hunger Games,” and it is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Michael Lesslie and his namesake, Michael Arndt.
Set 64 years before the events of the first movie, the story of “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” follows a young Coriolanus Snow (who will later be President Snow) and the events that eventually lead him toward becoming Panem’s tyrannical leader, side by side with his relationship and infatuation with Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12, the same district Katniss Everdeen was from, during the 10th Hunger Games.
The film stars Tom Blyth as Snow and Rachel Zegler as Baird, with Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis, among many others. It is scheduled for release on November 17th.
Interestingly, not yet even released in theaters, insights about whether there will be more “Hunger Games” spinoffs in the future are already out.
More ‘Hunger Games’ spinoffs?
Amanda Mullen, a writer for the popular entertainment website Screen Rant, shared her ideas on the possibility of more spinoffs after “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” adding she sees them happening under just one condition.
“Depending on the success of ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ the studio may realize there’s a demand for more ‘Hunger Games’ spinoffs,” she wrote.
She said that future spinoffs must focus on Panem’s fascinating history rather than continuing the trend of telling about the Hunger Games.
“The contrast between Katniss’ and Lucy’s Games makes this prequel intriguing, but continuing the trend of accompanying characters into the arena could get stale fast,” Mullen said.
Some of the most interesting points that future spinoffs may tackle, according to Mullen, include the war between the Districts and the Capitol, the political history of the Hunger Games, and the fall and disappearance of District 13.
Or probably even the outrageous fashion and style of the people in the Capitol, we think here. How about you? Do you agree with Mullen’s insights? Feel free to share this story around.
