The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes sequel might not be the best path for the franchise, as there are more captivating stories to be told. The original Hunger Games film came out in 2012, and it followed the story of Katniss Everdeen, a District 12 citizen who volunteered as tribute for the deadly Hunger Games to protect her younger sister. Katniss’ story spanned four films, which showed her putting an end to the Games and overthrowing the corrupt President Snow.
Five years after the last Hunger Games movie, author Suzanne Collins released a prequel novel in 2020, which was adapted into a film in 2023. The prequel delves into the rise of Coriolanus Snow, with Tom Blyth playing Snow and Rachel Zegler playing Lucy Gray Baird, his mentee. After the release of the prequel movie, there has been speculation about The Ballad and Songbirds & Snakes sequel, but that might not be the best direction for the franchise. Instead, the franchise should focus on exploring other areas of the franchise.
The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes’ 8 Biggest Hunger Games Prequel Book Changes
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is faithful to the book by Suzanne Collins, but there are still a few changes. We break down what the film alters.
The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes Doesn’t Look Likely – But That’s A Good Thing
Currently, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 2 does not seem likely, which could be to the franchise’s benefit. At the 2024 People’s Choice Awards, Zegler won Action Movie Star of the Year for her work in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. After her win, Zegler said goodbye to The Hunger Games and Lucy Gray in a heartfelt post, suggesting that she believes there will be no sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
The producers and filmmakers of the franchise have also mentioned that a new Hunger Games movie would not happen without source material from Collins. In an interview with EW, director Francis Lawrence confirmed that there are no plans for a follow-up to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes movie. These updates for a potential sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes are good, as there is very little left to explore with Snow’s rise to power. Furthermore, numerous stories within The Hunger Games universe would be far more interesting to see.
Another Hunger Games Spinoff Would Be Better For The Franchise Than A Sequel
There are many possibilities for The Hunger Games spinoffs rather than The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 2. Possibly the most intriguing sequel could center around Haymitch Abernathy during the 50th Hunger Games. While viewers know him as the mentor of Katniss and Peeta, exploring the challenges he faced and the traumas that shaped him would be a compelling story. Additionally, Haymitch’s Games take place during the second Quarter Quell, with the twist being twice as many tributes in the arena, which adds an extra layer of intensity.
Finnick Odair’s story could also be captivating, as it has a love story element with his relationship with Annie, while he navigates the Games. Finnick’s story would also feature Mags Flanagan as his mentor, who is a tribute in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Another option would be to move away from the Games and focus on the fall of District 13 and the first rebellion. This film would provide insight into the origin of the Hunger Games. With so many stories The Hunger Games franchise could explore, a sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes doesn’t seem like the best option.
Why The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes 2 Is A Bad Idea For The Hunger Games
Choosing The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 2 as the next film in The Hunger Games franchise might not be the best idea because there is not much left to tell. The ending of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes set up Snow’s rise in the Capitol, as he gained his wealth, eliminated Casca Highbottom, and became a Gamemaker, which started him on his path to becoming President. A sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes would also have to confirm the fate of Lucy Gray, which would take away from the mystery surrounding her, especially regarding how her loss impacts Snow.
Moreover, the lack of source material for a sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes poses a significant challenge. Without guidance from Collins, any story within The Hunger Games franchise could suffer. Considering the copious amount of untold stories, including ones following Haymitch, Finnick, and the fall of District 13, there are better options for the next installment in the franchise. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes sequel is not the best direction for the series, as it could take away from the impact of the prequel while also leaving more compelling stories in the universe waiting to be told.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
- Release Date
- November 17, 2023
- Franchise(s)
- The Hunger Games
- Cast
- Tom Blyth , Rachel Zegler , Hunter Schafer , Jason Schwartzman , Peter Dinklage , Josh Andrés , Josh Andrés Rivera , Viola Davis
- Sequel(s)
- The Hunger Games , The Hunger Games: Catching Fire , The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 , The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
- Distributor(s)
- Lionsgate
- Runtime
- 157 Minutes
