It’s been four years since the Hunger Games series supposedly let out a cannon-boom of closure with the release of Mockingjay – Part 2 in 2015 – but it seems that death-knell may have been premature. A prequel novel, currently going by Untitled Panem Novel, has just been confirmed by author Suzanne Collins for a May 2020 release – and a movie adaptation is already being talked about.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Lionsgate chairman Joe Drake said: “As the proud home of the Hunger Games movies, we can hardly wait for Suzanne’s next book to be published. We’ve been communicating with her during the writing process and we look forward to continuing to work closely with her on the movie.”
By the sounds of it then, a return to the world of brutal gladiatorial combat by trained-up teens in a dystopian future America seems highly likely – though the new film wouldn’t feature Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen. Collins’ new novel is set 64 years prior to the original story, depicting an earlier era of Panem.
It remains to be seen when a more official announcement about the film adaptation – including its title and release date – comes, or whether any details will be firmed up before the book hits the shelves. But as more information about Collins’ prequel is revealed, it will be fascinating to see which kind of characters will be leading this new era of the Hunger Games saga – and begin speculation on which actors may volunteer as tribute.
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