Jennifer Lawrence’s Potential Return to Hunger Games Discussed by Makers

Jennifer Lawrence has recently shown interest in returning in future installments of The Hunger Games Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. 

The actress plays the heroine Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games movies, based on Suzanne Collins’ novel trilogy.

Although The Hunger Games Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel and takes place decades before the birth of Katniss, Jennifer expressed her interest to return in the franchise eventually.

Recently, Yahoo! Entertainment had a round table discussion with franchise producer Nina Jacobson and director Francis Lawrence on the eve of the prequel’s release.

When asked about the possibility of Jennifer’s return to the franchise, Jacobson commented that she feels her story is incomplete. However, they would only make a movie if Suzanne Collins wrote a book dedicated to the incomplete plot. 

Read her full comments below:

If Suzanne has something to say, then she’ll write a book about it.Honestly, as much as I love Katniss, I think her story is complete. And I think that Suzanne feels that her story is complete. But if that changes, and Suzanne has something she wants to say, and it involves Katniss, then I would be thrilled. But really any chance to be back in this world, and lead with Francis and Suzanne, I would take regardless of who it was about. Francis Lawrence: What I’ve always loved is that Suzanne usually writes these things because she has a thematic idea she wants to explore. So I think that if for whatever reason she had some thematic idea that made sense to tell another Katniss story, I’d be in, and then I’m sure Jen would be in. But it really all comes from theme and idea, and Suzanne.

Despite all the buzz, a Katniss return in the near future is unlikely. Firstly, writing a book is not a piece of cake, and it will take Suzanne Collins a long time to stitch the perfect tale for Jennifer’s character. On top of that, the prolonged production time required for a movie of that magnitude will further add to the delay. 

Therefore, we can’t expect Jennifer Lawrence’s return to the Hunger Games franchise for at least five years from the time of writing. 

Moreover, there is also Jennifer’s schedule to contend with. Although the actress hasn’t had a lead role in any franchise since The Hunger Games and X-Men, she’s been starring in blockbusters like No Hard Feelings. 

Therefore, we can expect her to land similar roles in the future, which can take her attention away from Katniss Everdeen.

If this new movie performs well at the box office, the producers will surely want to stretch the franchise even more. However, a new film would still be set in the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ timeline, which will not feature Katniss. 

With all these things in mind, it seems pretty unlikely that a Katniss-centric movie could ever come to fruition. However, we can always be optimistic!

About The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is an upcoming film based on the book of the same name by American author Suzanne Collins. It is a spin-off and a prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy.

The film adaptation from Lionsgate is expected to release in late 2023 or early 2024. Director Francis Lawrence will return to direct. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson are returning as producers. Collins and Michael Arndt will adapt the screenplay.

The dystopian action-adventure novel follows 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, who is chosen to mentor a tribute in the upcoming 10th Hunger Games.