‘Hunger Games’ Franchise to Return with Fifth Movie

The Hunger Games is a beloved franchise that has truly set a remarkably high standard for dystopian and dramatic movie franchises in the young adult genre for years to come. 

Originally authored by Suzanne Collins, this series has grown into a cultural phenomenon that has continued to gain more and more popularity over the years. 

As of now, there have been four movies and four books in the series, although only three out of the four books have been adapted into movies. That is, until November 17th of this year, when the highly anticipated prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, will premiere. To truly appreciate the significance of the trailer and the upcoming movie, it’s important to understand the context behind it all. 

The Hunger Games tackles heavy themes such as war, child endangerment, and government corruption in a gripping and thought-provoking manner. 

The upcoming movie is going to be a prequel that deviates from the adventures of the main protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. This time, the story will take place 64 years before the events of the first movie, and the focus will shift to a new protagonist named Lucy Gray. In the original story, Katniss was known as the first winner from her district, District 12. Yet, as we found out in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes book, there was a previous winner from District 12 named Lucy Gray, whose existence was wiped from history. 

The new movie will also delve into the past of President Snow, a character we all know from the original Hunger Games story. We will get a glimpse of his life before the 74th annual Hunger Games from the first movie. In this story, a young Snow serves as a mentor for Lucy Gray, who is the female candidate from District 12. 

The upcoming film features a younger version of the infamous villain President Snow, showcasing his role as a mentor for the District 12 female candidate, Lucy Gray. 

As the trailer suggests, Snow’s family is barely surviving in the Capitol, and in order for him and his family to prosper, Lucy Gray must win the Hunger Games. Unlike Katniss, who hated the spotlight, Lucy is a defiant and performative girl. The trailer gives us a glimpse of the ancestor of Caesar Flickerman, the flamboyant host from the original movies, and Snow’s past acquaintances, whom he later betrays to climb the ranks. 

As the trailer progresses, we see parallels to the revolution that took place in the original four Hunger Games movies, with citizens tearing down banners and signs. 

Additionally, the trailer highlights the relationship between Snow and Tigris, a background character in the original movies. The trailer ends with a powerful quote, “It’s the things we love most that destroy us.” 

If you’re a big fan of The Hunger Games and are unfamiliar with this prequel, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when this movie premieres. If you’re impatient, the book is available for anyone to read! I promise that you’ll love it.