When news came last summer that author Suzanne Collins was returning to the universe of The Hunger Games for a prequel novel, it came bundled in with the fact that Lionsgate was in talks with the author to adapt it for the big screen. Now almost a year later, it’s official – the prequel story, titled The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes, is coming to the big screen from the studio, and filmmaker Francis Lawrence, who helmed Catching Fire and both Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2, is on board as director. Collins will act as an executive producer, and adapt the screenplay herself along with co-screenwriter Michael Arndt.
The ‘p’ word means that Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen isn’t expected to be part of this one. Instead, Collins’ new novel – which isn’t published until 21 May this year – is set 64 years prior to the events of the first Hunger Games story, and follows an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow. Those who know the series well will recall President Snow (as he’s later known) as the tyrannical leader of Panem in Katniss’ time, played in the movies by Donald Sutherland. Details on the plot of the novel are largely under wraps, though it is set around the 10th edition of the Hunger Games tournament, with a young Snow mentoring a female tribute from District 12.
“Lionsgate has always been the cinematic home of The Hunger Games, and I’m delighted to be returning to them with this new book,” a statement from Collins reads. “From the beginning, they have treated the source material with great respect, honouring the thematic and narrative elements of the story, and assembling an incredible team both in front of and behind the camera. It’s such a pleasure to be reuniting with Nina, Francis, and Michael to adapt the novel to the screen, and having them share their remarkable talents, once again, with the world of Panem. I look forward to collaborating with them and all at Lionsgate as we bring The Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes to theaters worldwide.”
There’s no proposed release date yet – and beyond it being early days on the film adaptation, it remains to be seen how long production schedules are impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. Still, fans of Collins’ world can find out what’s in store for the new movie when the novel lands next month.