Creative team from original films Michael Arndt, Nina Jacobson and author Suzanne Collins all reteam for new Lionsgate film
From left: Francis Lawrence, Suzanne Collins, Nina Jacobson/Lionsgate
The movie adaptation of the upcoming “The Hunger Games” prequel book “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” from author Suzanne Collins is a go at Lionsgate, and the creative team from the original films, including director Francis Lawrence, is all returning for the new film, Lionsgate motion picture group chairman Joe Drake announced Tuesday.
Lawrence, who directed “Catching Fire” and both “Mockingjay” films, will direct “The Hunger Games” prequel. Collins will write a treatment based on her upcoming novel, Color Force’s Nina Jacobson is returning to the franchise to produce, and Michael Arndt, who wrote “Catching Fire,” will pen the screenplay.
“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” takes place 64 years before the original trilogy, during the 10th annual Hunger Games, and will focus on Coriolanus Snow (played by Donald Sutherland in the original franchise) at age 18, years before he would become the tyrannical president of Panem.
Young Coriolanus is handsome and charming, and though the Snow family has fallen on hard times, he sees a chance for a change in his fortunes when he is chosen to be a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games, only to have his elation dashed when he is assigned to mentor the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.
Scholastic will publish “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” on May 19 in print, digital and audio formats in the U.S., Canada, the UK and Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
“Suzanne’s new book has been worth the wait. It offers everything fans could hope for and expect from ‘The Hunger Games’ while also breaking new ground and introducing an entirely new canvas of characters. ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ is creatively thrilling and takes this world to complex new dimensions that open up amazing cinematic possibilities. We’re thrilled to reunite this filmmaking team with this very unique franchise, and we can’t wait to begin production,” Drake said in a statement.
“Lionsgate has always been the cinematic home of ‘The Hunger Games,’ and I’m delighted to be returning to them with this new book,” Collins said in a statement. “From the beginning, they have treated the source material with great respect, honoring 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.”
Jacobson, who has produced all the films in the franchise, will produce “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” along with her partner Brad Simpson, who will also be involved in a producorial capacity. Collins will also serve as an executive producer.
The four “Hunger Games” films have grossed $2.9 billion at the worldwide box office. Lionsgate has also licensed the film for theme parks and live concert tours. And the books themselves have sold more than 100 million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into 52 languages.
The deal was overseen by Drake, who bought the original book during his previous tenure at the studio as head of the motion picture group. With the release of the new book, Drake made “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” a priority for Lionsgate. Jim Miller, the Lionsgate executive who has served as the studio’s project executive on all of the franchise’s films, will oversee the production. Patricia Laucella and Phil Strina oversaw the rights for the book as well as all talent deals for Lionsgate.
Lawrence most recently served as an executive producer on the Apple TV+ series “See” and directed the first three episodes of the series. Prior to that he reunited with “Hunger Games” star Jennifer Lawrence on the spy thriller “Red Sparrow.”
Arndt is an Oscar winner for his debut screenplay “Little Miss Sunshine,” and he also wrote “Toy Story 3,” “Oblivion” and “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.”
Collins was represented by Jason Dravis from The Dravis Agency and Diane Golden and Jennifer Justman from the law firm Katz Golden Lerner LLP. Lawrence is represented by CAA and 3 Arts as well as Gretchen Bruggeman-Rush at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller & Hoberman. Jacobson was represented by Julian Zajfen at Ziffren Brittenham. Arndt is repped by Verve and McKuin, Frankel & Whitehead.
'Hunger Games' 15 Most Memorable Moments: From First Kisses to Last Goodbyes (Videos)
- Katniss Shoots the AppleIn the first movie, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is ignored by the Gamemakers during a private session, so she takes up a bow and arrow, which she shoots through an apple in the roast pig’s mouth.
- Katniss Sings to Rue as She DiesIn the first film, Katniss and Rue team up in the arena, where the latter is killed early. To honor her, Katniss covers her in flowers and sings until her last breath before displaying the District 12 salute.
- “I Volunteer As Tribute”When Katniss’ sister, Prim (Willow Shields), is selected as a tribute in the first movie, Katniss offers to take her place, spawning the most famous line of the film: “I volunteer as tribute!”
- First Look at the CornucopiaKatniss and the other tributes first step into the Cornucopia, giving us our first look at the arena in which most are sent to die.
- Katniss and Peeta Make Suicide PactKatniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) are the last remaining combatants after it’s announced that two tributes from the same district can be victors. However, a last-minute rule change negates the first, and the duo hatches a plan to eat poison berries rather than fight each other to the death.
- Katniss and Peeta’s First KissKatniss and Peeta lock lips in the first film after she discovers him injured and brings Peeta to the safety of a nearby cave.
- Katniss And Peeta’s Victory TourDuring Katniss and Peeta’s return to Rue’s home District 11 while on their victory tour, legions whistle the Mockingjay call and raise the District 12 salute before a riot breaks out.
- Katniss and Gale KissGiving Gale (Liam Hemsworth) fans what they’d wanted since his true feelings for Katniss became clear, the two finally kiss in “Catching Fire.”
- Katniss Reveals Her Wedding DressIn “Catching Fire,” Katniss returns to Caesar Flickerman’s (Stanley Tucci) TV show to reveal her wedding dress/Mockingjay costume, cementing her as the symbol of the revolution.
- Mags DiesMags, who was Finnick’s mentor during his first go at the arena, volunteers to replace his love, Annie, when she is selected as a tribute. When Mags dies in the arena and Finnick says goodbye, hearts break in unison.
- Gale Gets WhippedGale runs to protect a beaten-down woman from a peacekeeper, and is whipped in a public square as punishment.
- Plutarch is Actually a RebelPhilip Seymour Hoffman’s character surprised everyone when it turned out he was a rebel all along.
- Katniss Sings “Hanging Tree”In “Mockingjay, Part 1,” Katniss sings a rendition of “The Hanging Tree,” when desperate but determined denizens from the various districts blow up a dam and cut off electricity in the Capitol.
- Katniss Sees Peeta’s Message From the CapitolWhile captive, Peeta warns Katniss that the Capitol is coming for her and everyone in District 13. When his video message cuts out, Katniss declares, “We have to get him out of there before they kill him.”
- Reprogrammed Peeta Attacks KatnissWhile he was held captive, Peeta’s positive memories of Katniss were replaced with malignant ones. When he’s released and sees Katniss for the first time, he tries to strangle her.
- “If We Burn, You Burn With Us”When the Capitol bombs a hospital filled with unarmed men, women and children in “Mockingjay, Part 1,” Katniss broadcasts a message to President Snow: “Fire is catching, and if we burn, you burn with us!”
In anticipation of the franchise’s finale, TheWrap looks back at Katniss, Peeta and Gale’s most shocking, heartbreaking and happy adventures
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