Action-Adventure Hunger Games Prequel | Lionsgate

[metaphysician]

Hmm, one possible explanation: audience aging. Hunger Games and its various clones were very much aimed as the teenage market. Maybe they built their audience with the books, leading quickly into the movies, made their bank, and then the audience passion was gone, because the original fanbase was no longer angsty teens, and the books didn't continue building new fanbase in the same manner.

 

[MadVillainy]

Hmm, one possible explanation: audience aging. Hunger Games and its various clones were very much aimed as the teenage market. Maybe they built their audience with the books, leading quickly into the movies, made their bank, and then the audience passion was gone, because the original fanbase was no longer angsty teens, and the books didn't continue building new fanbase in the same manner.

I thought that too.
But I think THG had a way bigger fanbase than just angsty teens or even just teens. You don't get almost $3billion WW off just teens. THG kinda transcended it's YA roots similar to Harry Potter or even Twilight

I do agree with the books didn't continue to build a fanbase probably did it in. Also maybe them moving so quickly. You look at Harry Potter and of course HP came to prominence at a very different time in entertainment and not every series can be HP, but HP had 4 books under it's belt with a promise of 3 more before even the first movie came out. WIth Hunger Games the series was done even before the first film dropped in 2012.

 

[DarkKnight88]

I think the concept of an arena where you have to survive to be the lone survivor will always be a fun/popular concept. The Running Man, Battle Royale etc. Then just make it family-accessible and you've got yourself a mainstream blockbuster. It peaked with the second film because that was basically the ultimate version of that concept. The following two films (or third book) moved beyond that, but it isn't nearly as fun.

I think the Game concept was what made the franchise so popular, and not so much the characters. Perhaps Katniss excluded, but that was thanks to Jennifer Lawrence's star making turn more than being beloved as a character ala Harry Potter.

 

[metaphysician]

I thought that too.
But I think THG had a way bigger fanbase than just angsty teens or even just teens. You don't get almost $3billion WW off just teens. THG kinda transcended it's YA roots similar to Harry Potter or even Twilight

I do agree with the books didn't continue to build a fanbase probably did it in. Also maybe them moving so quickly. You look at Harry Potter and of course HP came to prominence at a very different time in entertainment and not every series can be HP, but HP had 4 books under it's belt with a promise of 3 more before even the first movie came out. WIth Hunger Games the series was done even before the first film dropped in 2012.

You have a point, and Hunger Games certainly did better than other similar books. Its appeal lasted longer than just the lifespan of someone remaining a teenager. OTOH, the same dynamic might have still limited its lasting cultural impact, if. . . basically, it created its audience in a particular window of time, and it made an impression that lasted beyond the teenage years for that audience. However, it was a series that was right-place-right-time to create said audience, and once that time period ended, it ceased having the same resonance. Its not just that no new books means no new interest, but that even people reading the original books newly for the first time aren't effected the same way.

Alternatively, it could just be simpler: YA series have an intrinsically limited lifespan, and Hunger Games just did much better because it *was* better. Talking about how its influence has declined is missing the point, people do still talk about it even if its much less of a thing. It might not be a Star Wars or Lord of the Rings style multigenerational cultural touchstone, but there are many layers between that and "here today gone tomorrow".

 

[Pennywise]

‘Hunger Games’ Prequel To Start Production In First Half Of 2022, Lionsgate Film Boss Joe Drake Says – Deadline

 

[Pennywise]

 

[DarkKnight88]

That picture will haunt my dreams lol

 

[DarkShadow10]

That picture will haunt my dreams lol

Which one, lol…?

 

[Drizzle]

They're really going through with this after how much of a disaster Fantastic Beasts turned out to be?

 

[psylockolussus]

They're really going through with this after how much of a disaster Fantastic Beasts turned out to be?

I'm assuming its a 1 and done movie. And its probably going to be much cheaper than Mockingjay Part 2.

I like the idea of a prequel especially if the games are present.

 

[Drizzle]

I'm assuming its a 1 and done movie. And its probably going to be much cheaper than Mockingjay Part 2.

I like the idea of a prequel especially if the games are present.

Oh this thing is going to be made on the cheap but they could have also thought outside the box instead of just following the book because it's there. I think more people would have been inclined to see a prequel about a young Haymitch in his Hunger Games, who was a character that people actually liked unlike President Snow.

 

[psylockolussus]

Oh this thing is going to be made on the cheap but they could have also thought outside the box instead of just following the book because it's there. I think more people would have been inclined to see a prequel about a young Haymitch in his Hunger Games, who was a character that people actually liked unlike President Snow.

I think its being made just because there's an eXtra book.

I don't think Lionsgate would create a new story from scratch for a movie.

 

[Gee]

Rachel Zegler Cast in 'Hunger Games' Prequel as Lucy Gray Baird - Variety

“West Side Story” actor Rachel Zegler is set to star in “The Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”

Zegler had prompted speculation about her casting after she tweeted on Monday night, “listen up….. can y’all grow restfully? are you becoming an individual resting decisively?” As eagle-eyed fans pointed out, the first letter of each word in her tweet spells out the main character’s name, Lucy Gray Baird.

 

[MadVillainy]

Did anyone read the book prequel? Is it any good?

 

[CaptainWagner]

Did anyone read the book prequel? Is it any good?

I've heard good things. Been meaning to read it, but have quite the pile of books waiting on me first.

They're really going through with this after how much of a disaster Fantastic Beasts turned out to be?

Fantastic Beasts didn't fail because it was a prequel series. It's failed because it's a mess of two very different stories mashed together incoherently, dragged down by a writer who clearly doesn't understand the film medium and who is determined to let her ego and toxic views destroy the massive good-will her IP had built up.

 

[Drizzle]

Fantastic Beasts didn't fail because it was a prequel series. It's failed because it's a mess of two very different stories mashed together incoherently, dragged down by a writer who clearly doesn't understand the film medium and who is determined to let her ego and toxic views destroy the massive good-will her IP had built up.

True, but that doesn't make Harry Potter any less of a huge franchise that Fantastic Beasts still piggybacked off of. The Hunger Games series was massively popular years ago but even at its peak it never reached Harry Potter levels.

 

[henzINNIT]

Can't say I was itching for a Snow prequel story, but I did quite enjoy the series so I'll keep an eye on this. The world is pretty cool, Francis Lawrence is a solid director. Being a 'YA' thing not related to JK Rowling is another plus.

 

[MadVillainy]

Can't say I was itching for a Snow prequel story, but I did quite enjoy the series so I'll keep an eye on this. The world is pretty cool, Francis Lawrence is a solid director. Being a 'YA' thing not related to JK Rowling is another plus.

Kinda OT: I've been wondering what the next big YA trend will be.
When the HP films first started everyone was trying to do the fantasy/magic thing (Spiderwick Chronicles, Golden Compass, etc.) Then when Twilight started everyone was doing the paranormal romance adaptations (The Host, Vampire Diaries, etc.). Then when Hunger Games hit there were a bunch of dystopian future YA adaptions (Maze Runner which I think is underrated, Divergent, etc.)

I'm surprised superhero films have not really tried much with it. Sure over the years we had stuff like Zoom that weird Tim Allen movie, Sky High (still surprised we haven't gotten a Disney+ series), etc. But for example Titans is more "adult" and they tried with Cloak and Dagger and The Gifted but those didn't take.
Not saying that I want or need YA superhero stuff, but the way companies always chase trends I'm just surprised no one has tried really hard to make a YA superhero TV series or movie series

 

[GothamCity]

This doesnt need prequels does it?
The films wherent that good.

 

[MadVillainy]

This doesnt need prequels does it?
The films wherent that good.

I mean..no more than we NEED another MCU or Batman movie.

YMMV on the films' quality, but the series is successful. Be pretty silly of a studio, especially one like Lionsgate that doesn't have a lot of big properties, to try and capitalize on its previous success.

The story also lends itself to a prequel. It's not like the Training Day prequel they're working on.

 

[MOVIELORD101]

BRUH.

 

[Ninjablade]

No interest in this movie, as I didn't care for the previous ones. But the teaser is cool. Feels super old school. I miss simplistic teaser like this.

 

[Still Wynning]

It’s the director of the majority of the main series, one of the writers of Catching Fire, which was the best one, and the book is very solid source material to work from.

Very optimistic about this.

 

[MadVillainy]

Yeah that trailer was pretty cool. Maybe a little too long. But I agree with @Ninjablade that it's cool to see a teaser like that again. We don't really get that anymore.

I like 2/3 of the books but really only the Catching Fire movie (the first movie was ok). Not really excited for this prequel but it could be cool

 

[psylockolussus]

Cool logo.