There’s been discussion of a Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes sequel ever since the Hunger Games prequel debuted, and one star’s comments make the franchise’s future even more frustrating. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes movie brought the world of the Hunger Games back to the big screen after eight years, reminding viewers why they fell into Panem’s tumultuous political landscape in the first place. The prequel reveals how a young Coriolanus Snow influences the Hunger Games tournament, and it chronicles his relationship with one of the contestants: District 12’s Lucy Gray.

The ending of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is intentionally ambiguous when it comes to Lucy Gray’s fate, and it leaves Snow in a position to climb through the ranks of the Capitol. While their story can easily end there — and it does in Suzanne Collins’ books — the open nature of the conclusion makes The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 2 a possibility. Even some of the first movie’s cast members are on board for a sequel. And that makes the uncertain future of The Hunger Games franchise that much more frustrating.

Tom Blyth’s Interest In Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes 2 Is Promising

The Actor Is Willing To Explore Snow’s Character In More Depth

Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes star Tom Blyth expressed interest in a sequel, which is promising for The Hunger Games’ on-screen future. Rachel Zegler and Blyth both brought star power to the new Hunger Games movie, and their portrayals of their respective characters proved hits among the franchise’s fan base. Any sequel would need to return to Coriolanus Snow’s rise to power, so it’s a relief to know that Blyth would be willing to explore his character in further depth. On the subject, Blyth told Screen Rant, “It’d be a no-brainer.”

Despite Snow’s future being set in stone by the original Hunger Games movies, the actor feels there’s more room to explore his character’s arc. Whether it’s as the lead of Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 2 or a supporting character, Blyth believes “it’d be fascinating to see his continued rise to power and what happens along the way.” And he does have a point. Even if viewers know the outcome of Snow’s journey, seeing it firsthand would add new layers to it. Like The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, it could also place the original series in a new light.

Why The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes 2 Hasn’t Been Announced (Despite Interest)

There Isn’t Any Source Material To Pull From

Blyth is far from the only person interested in a Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sequel, but it likely hasn’t been announced due to the lack of source material. Collins’ Hunger Games books encompass the original trilogy and one prequel novel, and the latter leaves Snow and Lucy’s story intentionally ambiguous, just like its movie adaptation. The author has never written a follow-up to the Hunger Games prequel, nor has she expanded on any other narratives set in the original series’ world.

There’s likely some hesitation to dig into such stories without books to pull ideas from. After all, abandoning the source material has hurt other franchises, resulting in outrage from diehard fans. However, The Hunger Games is too massive to stop building on. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes proves there’s still a demand for stories in this world, and there are ways to stay true to Collins’ books while creating new narratives from them. That’s the benefit of having so many well-developed characters and backstories; they all present opportunities for the franchise.

Why Hunger Games’ Future Shouldn’t Be Limited To Books

There Are So Many Great Characters To Explore In Spinoffs

The Hunger Games franchise shouldn’t let the lack of new books prevent it from expanding, as there are so many directions that Lionsgate can take to craft future sequels and spinoffs. While The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 2 opens interesting avenues of character exploration, there are even more compelling stories to tell in the world of Panem. Supporting characters like Haymitch, Mags, and Finnick could easily carry their own projects, returning viewers to earlier tournaments in the Hunger Games arena.

Capitol characters like Cinna and Tigris are also ripe for further development, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes proves such stories can connect to the greater themes of the franchise. There are so many places it can go beyond The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 2 — and even that shouldn’t be put on hold just because there’s no source material to draw from. The Hunger Games has become just as big on-screen as it has in bookstores, so there’s no reason the franchise can’t mix up its storytelling. Many fans are eager to see more of Panem, regardless of the format.