The New Hunger Games Movie: Breaking Franchise Barriers Revealed by Producer

Summary

The upcoming Hunger Games prequel, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," will avoid creating spinoffs based on fan-favorite characters for the sake of it.

Producer Nina Jacobson stresses the significance of prioritizing the exploration of author Suzanne Collins' desired narrative over exploiting the franchise solely for financial gain.

It is vital to preserve the integrity of the original books and movies and to center on the political allegory and cautionary tale they communicate. Collins' astute comprehension of the dynamics within her invented world guarantees the compelling plots and narrative in "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes."

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will avoid a common mistake made by franchises. The upcoming prequel, based on Suzanne Collins' novel of the same name, tells the story of the 10th Hunger Games and follows the journey of an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blythe). Snow eventually becomes President Snow in The Hunger Games trilogy and the prequel focuses on his coming-of-age in the Capitol, as well as his role as a mentor to District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). The cast of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes also features Hunter Schafer (Tigris), Viola Davis (Dr. Volumnia Gale), and Peter Dinklage (Dean Casca Highbottom).

Producer Nina Jacobson explains to Polygon that The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes addresses a major issue with franchises. According to Jacobson, future Hunger Games movies will not rely on creating spinoffs centered around a popular character, as it can only happen if author Suzanne Collins writes another book. Here is the full quote from Jacobson:

"There can be no Hunger Games movies without Suzanne Collins writing another book, so we are not going to do spinoffs. We are not going to glom onto a fan favorite character that happens to catch fire."

You could have opted for a beloved character - 'Let's delve into Haymitch's journey! Or explore Finnick's trials!' - but that would be a mere act of repetition. If Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins had a compelling story within this universe that she wished to convey, a subject to delve into, then by all means. However, if not, it would be wiser to maintain the franchise as a cherished memory rather than force out a sequel for the sake of it.

Why The Hunger Games Is Right Not to Create Endless Spinoffs

Similar to the original films, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a film adaptation of a prequel novel written by Collins. It was released in 2020, marking the first new book in the Hunger Games series in over a decade, following the conclusion of the trilogy with Mockingjay in 2010. Even before the release of the prequel book, Lionsgate had announced plans for spinoffs to expand the Hunger Games universe, with reports dating back to 2017. However, no updates on production ever materialized, which aligns with Jacobson's recent comments regarding spinoffs and sequels.

With other franchises, like Harry Potter and the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them prequel series, capitalizing on their successful content through multiple spinoffs, it might seem tempting for The Hunger Games to follow suit. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, in particular, laid the foundation for potential spinoffs by introducing previous victors. Characters like Finnick (Sam Claflin) could easily have their own stories, delving into their training for the Hunger Games and their subsequent hero journeys. This lineup could have also included Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), who endured the Second Quarter Quell, and Johanna Mason (Jena Malone).

However, reducing The Hunger Games to mere spinoffs could undermine the essence of the books and movies. While they do chronicle Katniss' heroic journey, they also serve as political allegories, using the Capitol and the thirteen districts as a cautionary tale of the drastic consequences of unchecked injustice. With years of world-building, Collins is the foremost creative mind to grasp these dynamics and determine which stories best convey this narrative. Fortunately, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will honor the integrity of Panem and its intricately crafted plots.

Source: Polygon