THE HUNGER GAMES Prequel Film THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES Moves Forward with Director Francis Lawrence

Lionsgate is moving forward with The Hunger Games prequel film The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The film is based on author Suzanne Collins’s upcoming novel, and Francis Lawrence is returning to the franchise to direct it. Lawrence directed the last three Hunger Games movies, which include Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Mockingjay Part 2.

This movie will focus on Coriolanus Snow when he was 18-years-old, “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.”

Here’s the synopsis form the book:

Set 64 years before the events of Katinss’ revolution in the original series, Ballad will revolve specifically around the events of the 10th Hunger Games—Panem’s battle royale event where kids of its myriad districts are randomly selected to take part in a murderous fight for survival—and the slow recovery the dystopian nation state took after a deadly war nearly destroyed it.

Collins will write the film’s treatment, and Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3) will adapt the screenplay. Nina Jacobson, who has produced all of the films in the franchise, will produce along with her partner Brad Simpson.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Joe Drake, said in a statement:

 “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.”

Collins added:

“Lionsgate has always been the cinematic home of The Hunger Games, and I’m delighted to be returning to them with this new book. 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.”

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes book is set to hit stores on May 19, 2020. Lionsgate made a ton of money off of The Hunger Games franchise, so it’s not surprising that they would want to adapt this upcoming book into a film.

If you’re a fan of The Hunger Games franchise, is this a story that you’re looking forward to reading or seeing?