The Hunger Games franchise is back. Lionsgate announced Tuesday that the studio is developing a feature film version of Suzanne Collins’s prequel novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Francis Lawrence, who directed Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Mockingjay Part 2, will return to helm this film.
No word yet on casting or a release date for the film.
Collins’ novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be published by Scholastic simultaneously in print, digital and audio formats in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand on May 19.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“The film will focus on Coriolanus Snow 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 Tenth Hunger Games… only to have his elation dashed when he is assigned to mentor the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.”
Collins will write the film’s treatment and will also serve as an executive producer. Oscar-winner Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3, Catching Fire) will adapt the screenplay.
Hunger Games producer Nina Jacobson is back to produce this entry along with her Color Force partner Brad Simpson.
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“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,” said Joe Drake, chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, in the announcement. “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.”
The Hunger Games film franchise earned over $3 billion at the worldwide box office.
Source: IGN.com Hunger Games Movie Prequel Officially Announced