Originally published September 25, 2023. Updated September 26, 2023.
It seems like we can’t escape the twisted world of Panem.
As we await the release of the franchise prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, director Francis Lawrence teases a follow-up to his still-unleased film.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly for the new cover story, the filmmaker opened up about making another return for more Hunger Games, which his statements to EW make it seem possible. Lawrence tells the outlet:
“If Suzanne has another thematic idea that she feels fits into the world of Panem — whether with new people or familiar characters — I’d be interested in being a part of it. But I don’t have any pull of just going, like, ‘I would love to do Finnick’s games.’ What are the thematic underpinnings that make it worth telling? The original ones were all about the consequences of war. [BOSS] is about the state of nature. That’s what makes them feel rich — and why they’ve stood the test of time.”
As the films are based on the work of author Suzanne Collins, we’ll need a new novel from her before we get any movement on a sequel to this prequel. At the time of writing, there’s nothing in development.
THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favour. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes stars Tom Blyth (Billy The Kid), Rachel Zegler (West Side Story), Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), Jason Schwartzman (The French Dispatch), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Viola Davis (The Suicide Squad), Josh Andrés Rivera (West Side Story), Ashley Liao (Physical), Knox Gibson (Forgive Us Our Trespasses), Aamer Husain (Hudson & Rex), Mackenzie Lansing (Mare of Easttown), Nick Benson (Big Shot), Laurel Marsden (Ms. Marvel), Lilly Cooper (The Witcher), Luna Steeples (Overdue), Hiroke Berrecloth (Red Rose), Zoe Renee (Jinn), Kaitlyn Akinpelumi (The School of Good and Evil), Ayomide Adegun (The Continental), Max Raphael (Slaughterhouse Rulez) and newcomers Sofia Sanchez, Amelie Hoeferle and Jerome Lance.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes arrives in cinemas on November 17th.
