The Hunger Games: The Ballad of the Songbirds and Snakes serves as the first prequel in the Hunger Games film series, but another movie could revolve around Mags Flanagan and explore her backstory (and possibly confirm a popular fan theory regarding her character). The 2023 dystopian film, directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt, is based on Suzanne Collins’ 2020 book of the same name. It is set 64 years before the first movie and chronicles Coriolanus Snow’s villain origin story and involvement in the 10th Hunger Games (and beyond).
Following the success of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, many wonder if a sequel is on its way. If Collins writes another prequel or Lionsgate greenlights a sixth film in the series, they have the perfect opportunity to tell Mags’ backstory. Mags first appeared in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as an 80-year-old woman who volunteered in Annie Cresta’s place during the reaping for the Third Quarter Quell. However, Mags previously won the 11th Hunger Games, which took place one year following the 2023 movie, and a sequel could tell fans more about her character.
Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes 2 Including Mags Could Mean Revealing Why She Doesn’t Talk
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The second entry into the Hunger Games film franchise and based on Suzanne Collins’ book of the same name, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire picks up shortly after the events of the first film. Returning home to District 12 after their victory at the 74th Annual Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) begin to sense an imminent rebellion against the oppressive Capitol.
- Release Date
- November 1, 2013
- Cast
- Jennifer Lawrence , Josh Hutcherson , Sam Claflin
- Runtime
- 2h 26m
- Franchise(s)
- The Hunger Games
If a sequel to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes gets greenlit and takes place one year later during the 11th Hunger Games, fans can finally learn why Mags never speaks in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. As some recall, Mags, played by the late Lynn Cohen in the 2013 film, didn’t have any lines in the movie. However, the project never gave a definite reason behind her being mute.
Footage from the District 4 reaping showed Mags silently volunteering for the 75th Hunger Games after Annie’s name was drawn. Then, when Katniss Everdeen met her during training before the Games began, Mags taught her how to make fishhooks without saying a word. Mags tagged along with Katniss, Peeta Mellark, and Finnick Odair (also from District 4) in the arena. Sadly, her old age slowed the group down, so Mags sacrificed herself to save them. Her final action before dying was kissing Finnick, who screamed after her as she silently walked into a cloud of acid fog.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire never explains why Mags doesn’t talk. Meanwhile, the book, told from Katniss’ perspective, only includes the Girl on Fire’s speculative thoughts on what might have happened to her. Katniss believed that Mags might have had a stroke, resulting in her becoming mute, but the books or movies never confirmed that theory.
Mags’ PTSD From The Games Is Why She Can’t Speak – Hunger Games Theory Explained
One popular fan theory claims that Mags can’t speak in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a direct result of her time in the arena during her Games. A side effect of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being unable to speak to others, whether it is voluntarily or not. Some might remember that Katniss temporarily could not speak following Prim’s death at the end of Mockingjay. Perhaps Katniss’ PTSD and Mags’ were similar, drawing yet another parallel between (a possible) prequel and the original film series.
Every victor undoubtedly experienced PTSD after exiting the arena, and Mags would be no different. Consequently, many believe that whatever happened to Mags when she won the 11th Hunger Games led to her mute state. If Lionsgate produces The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 2, it could confirm or deny the theory that PTSD was a factor in Mags’ inability to talk.
Songbirds & Snakes Set Up The Darkest Hunger Games Prequel (& It Would Change The Franchise Forever)
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes peeked into an aspect of The Hunger Games franchise that has never been seen before, but should be the next movie.
Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes 2 Can Show How Traumatic Mags’ Hunger Games Were
Of course, Suzanne Collins has not announced that she is writing another Hunger Games prequel about Mags, and Lionsgate has not revealed plans for a sequel to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. However, they could easily do both, given that Mags’ Games take place one year following Lucy Gray Baird’s win. Plus, a sequel would mean that many more corners of this universe could be explored (like District 4), and fans could learn how Mags’ win affected her and turned her into the 80-year-old woman in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Producers would have to recast Mags for a potential sequel, and they would have plenty of talented young actresses to choose from. Mags was only 16 years old when she won, and whatever happened to her during the 11th Hunger Games undoubtedly traumatized her for the rest of her life. Ultimately, if a sequel to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is in the cards, it would be best to explore Mags’ Games and finally explain why she is mute by the time of the Third Quarter Quell.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel movie set 64 years before the events of the original movie with Katniss Everdeen. The film centers on a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and shows his rise to power as the leader of Panem. Taking place during the 10th Hunger Games, Snow is tasked with mentoring Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the tribute from District 12.
- Release Date
- November 17, 2023
- Cast
- Tom Blyth , Rachel Zegler , Hunter Schafer , Jason Schwartzman , Peter Dinklage , Josh Andrés , Josh Andrés Rivera , Viola Davis
- Runtime
- 157 Minutes
- Franchise(s)
- The Hunger Games
