Scholastic has announced that Suzanne Collins is returning to the world of The Hunger Games with a prequel novel set for release in May 2020, while Lionsgate is already planning a feature film adaptation.
As per Deadline, the currently untitled book ” will be set in the world of Panem 64 years before the events of the original Hunger Games trilogy on the morning of the reaping of the 10th Hunger Games — well before the lifetime of the story’s protagonists Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence).”
“With this book, I wanted to explore the state of nature, who we are, and what we perceive is required for our survival. The reconstruction period ten years after the war, commonly referred to as the Dark Days—as the country of Panem struggles back to its feet—provides fertile ground for characters to grapple with these questions and thereby define their views of humanity.”
“As the proud home of the Hunger Games movies, we can hardly wait for Suzanne’s next book to be published,” added Joe Drake, Chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, with regards to the movie adaptation. “We’ve been communicating with her during the writing process and we look forward to continuing to work closely with her on the movie.”
The three Hunger Games novels have sold over 100 million copies worldwide, while Lionsgate’s four films grossed almost $3 billion combined at the worldwide box office.