Fans of The Hunger Games film series should get ready to volunteer as tribute all over again as a prequel film is officially in the works.
The multi-billion dollar making Hunger Games film series starred Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence as a brave freedom fighter forced to act out a reality show style game of murder for survival in the futuristic dystopian adventure.
The original series stretched over four films which triumphed at cinemas between 2012 and 2015 – banking almost $3 billion (£2.4 billion) in the process.
Film distributor Lionsgate confirmed that a brand new prequel movie will be made and is set to be helmed by The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2 director Francis Lawrence.
The Hunger Games is based on a book series by Suzanne Collins, and the new movie will be based on the authors forthcoming novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Suzanne will pen the screenplay for the film herself – with Catching Fire screenwriter Michael Arndt co-writing.
The prequel will follow the main film and book series’ primary villain, President Snow, as a youth.
The story is said to follow an 18-year-old Snow who acts as a mentor in the 10th annual Hunger Games to a contestant who hails from District 12.
“Lionsgate has always been the cinematic home of The Hunger Games, and I’m delighted to be returning to them with this new book,” author Suzanne 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,” she added.
Veteran actor Donald Sutherland, 84, played the old version of President Snow in the original film series.
Casting for the forthcoming new film has not been revealed.
Hollywood is currently in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, with filming in the TV and Film industry on pause for the forseeable future.
