Why Haymitch & Finnick Prequel Movies Haven’t Happened Yet Explained By Hunger Games Director

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes director Francis Lawrence addresses why President Snow was chosen to receive a prequel before fan-favorite characters Haymitch Abernathy and Finnick Odair. The prequel movie is an adaptation of the 2020 novel written by series creator Suzanne Collins that focuses on Coriolanus Snow’s rise to power from a mentor during the 10th Hunger Games to a key political player in the Capitol. Tom Blyth will play the young Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, taking over the role portrayed by Donald Sutherland in the first four movies.

With The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes about to release in theaters, Lawrence explains why iconic characters like Haymitch and Finnick have not experienced the prequel treatment like Snow in an interview with The Huffington Post. In a question asking which characters deserve to have their own spinoff, the director stated that the responsibility of who receives their own movies falls on Collins and that he would rather wait for her to develop a story with a clear theme or question rather than simply capitalizing on a character’s popularity. He even refers to Haymitch and Finnick to justify the reasoning, considering the high demand from fans for their prequel movies. Check out Lawrence’s explanation below:

I get asked this a lot. It’s hard for me to pick a character because what I love are themes, and that’s why I adore Suzanne’s books because she starts with a thematic idea and the story is born from that.

Really, I have to wait for Suzanne to come up with a new theme, to have something to say, and then we’ll figure out a way to sort of weave it into this world. I know a lot of fans want something on the Haymitch games or the Finnick games, but without the substance, it starts to feel like they’re just kind of rehashes, if that makes sense.

Why Snow Is The Best Central Character Choice For The Hunger Games’ First Prequel

While there may be interest in other characters receiving a full-length story of their own, it could be argued that no other character perhaps fits The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes‘ overarching theme more than Snow. The prequel novel not only explores how the punitive Hunger Games were elevated from their post-war punishment to a grim spectacle watched by Panem, but it also questions morality, the choices individuals have, and what they are willing to do to survive. As both Finnick and Haymitch were victims forced into the games, Snow was the better candidate as he had greater control over his journey.

Throughout The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, various figures and factors guide Snow in his life. Snow initially desires to restore his family’s name after they endure hard times in the post-war landscape. Characters such as Sejanus Plinth (Josh Andres Rivera) and Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) give Snow a glimpse at a life outside the Capitol’s hierarchy and rules where compassion reigns. Meanwhile, the teachings of Gamemaker and scientist Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis) suggest humanity was far more self-serving and encouraged Snow to continue down a dark path that would give him power at a cost.

Despite being a beloved franchise throughout the 2010s, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is currently the only entry that has expanded the world beyond Katniss’ (Jennifer Lawrence) story. With Lawrence explaining why Snow was the first choice for a prequel tale, it is clear that Collins is only keen on committing to a story if she feels it can tackle interesting themes. However, with the director stating that he is awaiting Collins to develop new stories, he is interested in expanding the world of The Hunger Games.