Whether you're firmly Everlark or Everthorne, you'll be thrilled to hear that we will once again be submerged into the dystopic world of Panem. Lionsgate have officially confirmed the long anticipated film prequel to the Hunger Games. The announcement came, oddly enough, from Lionsgate chairman Joe Drake in a quarterly meeting with Wall Street analysts. It seems the Hunger Games fandom truly knows no bounds.
What is it about?
In the meeting, Drake discussed production dates, with filming set to start in the first half of next year. Based on Susan Collin's novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the film weaves together a tale of Panem years before Katniss or Peeta were ever on the scene. From what we can tell from the book, the plot will instead be a sort of origin story for steely villain President Coriolanus Snow. According to the Scholastic novel, the story begins with Snow as a teenager, his family adjusting to poverty after only knowing extreme wealth. Snow is called upon to mentor Lucy Gray, a tribute that he eventually falls in love with. If the film is anything like the book it will we can expect to see Snow struggle between his love for Gray and his own self-interest. Is this the story of an anti-hero? From witnessing all the bloody murder to come in the Hunger Games we're not so sure. But with Oscar-winning screenwriter, Michael Arndt, adapting the novel, we're sure he'll make a strong case.
What do you we know about casting?
As far as casting is concerned, nothing has been announced. But seeing as The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set in a completely different time period to the one we grew to love in the Hunger Games, we don't expect to see any of the original cast members like Jennifer Lawrence or Liam Hemsworth. Although, I like to entertain the idea that maybe someday Lionsgate will come to their senses and give us a spinoff with Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz and Woody Harrelson.
When can we watch it?
So when can we expect to actually see the film? Lionsgate have set their sights on late 2023 to early 2024. Hopefully by that stage, we'll be allowed to watch the film in movie theatres, instead of from our own make-shift cinemas in bed.
Images: @thehungergames
