Following the success of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, many are eager for the Hunger Games franchise to continue, starting with the 11th Games, aka the one where Mags Flanagan from District 4 was the victor. Fortunately, Hollywood has plenty of young actors who could play Mags at 16. The bad news is that no sequels have been announced at this time, either by Lionsgate or Suzanne Collins. But it seems as if more books and movies are inevitable, given the prequel’s accomplishments, which came out many years after the release of the last novel in the original trilogy.
The 2023 dystopian film takes place 64 years before the events of the first Hunger Games movie and revolves around a young Coriolanus Snow before he becomes Panem’s president. Snow, who was 18, was one of the 24 chosen to serve as mentors to the tributes for the 10th Hunger Games, and he was assigned Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from District 12. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is Snow’s (villain) origin story, and a sequel could depict the following years’ Hunger Games when Mags, played by Lynn Cohen in Catching Fire, won.
10 Sadie Sink
Known for Stranger Things and Fear Street
Although Mags had long gray hair in Catching Fire, seeing as she was 80 years old in the film, released Victory Tour posters depict the 11th Hunger Games winner as having red hair. Sadie Sink is naturally the first young actress who comes to mind when thinking about who could play Mags in the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sequel. Sink’s breakout role was as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, and since then, the 21-year-old has appeared in the Fear Street movies and Taylor Swift’s All Too Well: The Short Film.
Aside from having red hair, Sink would be the perfect Mags. She has experience playing characters who run from monsters and are constantly fighting for her life. Plus, Sink has proven she is a very talented and adaptable actress who is able to play a wide variety of characters. As a result, Sink could be the right person to play the victor in another Hunger Games prequel.
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9 Bebe Wood
Known for Mean Girls
Bebe Wood is a relatively new actress, but she should be in the running to play Mags if Lionsgate produces a Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sequel that centers around the 11th Hunger Games. Of course, it helps that Wood has red hair, but her work as Gretchen in the 2024 adaptation of the musical version of Mean Girls showcases her talent. Following the success of Mean Girls, it would be interesting if Wood pursued different roles, like Mags, to see the actress’s versatility.
8 Elsie Fisher
Known for Eighth Grade and The Summer I Turned Pretty
Elsie Fisher is another talented young star who could portray Mags in a Hunger Games film about the 11th Games. They are known for their roles in Eighth Grade, for which they were nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, Castle Rock, Barry, and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Fisher is already an accomplished actor, but at only 20 years old, they can broaden their horizons by venturing into the dystopian genre.
7 Mckenna Grace
Known for The Haunting of Hill House and Ghostbusters
Mckenna Grace has starred in plenty of big films and television shows since her career started when she was only six, and perhaps her next gig could be a leading role in the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sequel. Grace is most known for appearing in The Haunting of Hill House, I, Tonya, The Handmaid’s Tale (which garnered her an Emmy nomination), and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Even though she is only 17 years old, Grace is extremely gifted and has proven she can play any role thrown her way. So, portraying Mags would undoubtedly be a breeze for the young actress.
6 Mackenzie Foy
Known for Twilight
Mackenzie Foy has experience working on franchise films, and The Hunger Games series could be her next big project. Foy most famously played Renesmee Cullen, Edward and Bella’s daughter, in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 in 2012. Since then, she has starred in movies like Interstellar, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, and Black Beauty. If Foy has the urge to (sort of) return to her roots, she could portray Mags when she won the Hunger Games in a Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sequel.
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5 Millie Bobby Brown
Known for Stranger Things
Millie Bobby Brown is, without a doubt, one of the best actresses of her generation. Her breakout role as Eleven in Stranger Things was critically acclaimed and earned her two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. With the Netflix series coming to an end following season 5, Brown’s schedule has opened up (even though it’s probably still pretty full), leaving her with the viable option to play Mags in a Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sequel. However, Brown might have to duke it out with her Stranger Things co-star Sadie Sink for the role.
4 Sophia Lillis
Known for It
Hollywood happens to have plenty of young, accomplished actresses with red hair, and Sophia Lillis is one of them. Lillis is known for her roles in It, I Am Not Okay With This, Sharp Objects, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. She has dabbled in a wide variety of genres, from horror to comedy and fantasy and everything in between. Her versatile style could make her the perfect fit as 16-year-old Mags in the Hunger Games franchise.
3 Bella Ramsey
Known for The Last of Us
Bella Ramsey is an up-and-coming star in Hollywood following their breakout role as Ellie in The Last of Us. They received a slew of nominations at prestigious awards shows, like the Emmys and Golden Globes, for playing Ellie in the HBO television series. Given their talent, experience in the post-apocalyptic/dystopian genre, and age (they are only 20), Ramsey could portray a young Mags in a Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sequel with ease.
2 Eliza Scanlen
Known for Little Women
At 25 years old, Eliza Scanlen is on the older side of the performers on this list, but she would still be a great choice to play Mags in a Hunger Games prequel. Scanlen’s most notable acting roles are Beth in Little Women, Amma in Sharp Objects, and young Eleanor Roosevelt in The First Lady, all of which she received critical acclaim. She has experience playing the younger versions of older, iconic characters, so it will likely be effortless for Scanlen to slip into the role of the 11th Hunger Games victor.
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1 Amybeth McNulty
Known for Anne with an E and Stranger Things
Amybeth McNulty is the final pick to play Mags in a Hunger Games film about the 11th Games, and she would undoubtedly thrive in the leading role in the theoretical project. McNulty has received praise for her work as the titular character in the CBC/Netflix television series Anne with an E, and she has recently joined the Stranger Things cast as Robin’s love interest, Vickie. McNulty’s career is just getting started, and the talented actress could become a household name if she starred as Mags in a Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sequel.
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
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
- Cast
- Tom Blyth , Rachel Zegler , Hunter Schafer , Jason Schwartzman , Peter Dinklage , Josh Andrés , Josh Andrés Rivera , Viola Davis
- Franchise(s)
- The Hunger Games
