Will There Be Some 'Hunger Games' Prequels?

Just as the world is coming to terms with the fact that The Hunger Games is over for good, there appears to be a glimmer of hope. The final movie, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two, was released in November 2015, and already fans are having withdrawal symptoms. How is it possible that we'll never again see Jennifer Lawrence become Katniss in front of our very eyes? It's the end of an era, that's for sure, but could there be more Hunger Games movie in the future? According to Variety, Michael Burns, the Vice Chairman of Lionsgate, the studio that make The Hunger Games movies, said the films “will live on and on.”

Apparently, Burns is especially keen to keep the franchise alive, particularly as its fan base is still strong, even if they were a little less enamored with the final chapter of the story. Burns was speaking at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in New York when he made the comments, and, even though it wasn't a definite confirmation there would be more Hunger Games, Burns made a pretty convincing case. I wonder if prequels might run the risk of being a little depressing, considering the world they're set in? And presumably, Jennifer Lawrence wouldn't return?

According to Variety, Burns apparently made much of the fact that the first two The Hunger Games movies featured arenas, while the second two didn't, and that this contributed to the enjoyment of fans. Burns is quoted as saying, “If we went backwards, there obviously would be arenas.” Obviously there's a big "if" at the start of his sentence, but he makes an interesting point.

The arena battles were the main focus of the first two films, and provided a satisfying story arc, as well as a chance for the characters to interact in one place. The fact that story lines based around a Hunger Games arena might mean that only one location is used for much of the filming of any prequels is probably quite an enticing concept. After all, "bottle episodes" are a great way for shows to save money.

Whether or not Lionsgate decide to make some prequels to The Hunger Games, one thing's for sure: the general public aren't ready to let go of Katniss just yet.

Images: Lionsgate