Suzanne Collins’
The Hunger Games, a trilogy of young adult dystopian novels, sparked a movie franchise that made more than $2.9 billion worldwide. Now, with Collins confirming work on a prequel novel, the studio is also ready to return to Panem.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Collins is currently writing a prequel novel set 64 years before the start of the original
Hunger Games novels. The currently untitled novel is scheduled to release on May 19, 2020.
Details are limited, but Collins teased that the novel will take us back to war-torn Panem following the failed rebellion - a time referred to as the Dark Days - well before
The Hunger Games.
“With this book, I wanted to explore the state of nature, who we are, and what we perceive is required for our survival. The reconstruction period ten years after the war, commonly referred to as the Dark Days — as the country of Panem struggles back to its feet — provides fertile ground for characters to grapple with these questions and thereby define their views of humanity.”
The original trilogy was set well after the Dark Days, with the Capitol in full control over the surrounding 12 districts of the North American country of Panem. As punishment for the rebellion, each district is forced to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a brutal battle royale in which tributes (one boy and one girl from each district) are selected to partake in a fight to the death. The series was told from the perspective of a character named Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawerence in the films, who eventually helped lead an uprising against the Capitol and President Snow.
"Suzanne Collins is a master at combining brilliant storytelling, superb world building, breathtaking suspense, and social commentary," Scholastic Trade Publishing President Ellie Berger said in a statement.
"We are absolutely thrilled — as both readers and publishers — to introduce the devoted fans of the series and a new audience to an entirely new perspective on this modern classic."
With Collins working on the new novel, Lionsgate is already chomping at the bit for a new movie.
“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,” said Joe Drake, chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, in a statement.
Collins’ prequel novel is due out in 2020, with Lionsgate’s movie only in the early stages of development. However, given that the studio seems to be working closely with the author, perhaps the movie adaptation could move quickly once the novel releases.