The Hunger Gamesmovies are moving in a new direction, making it more difficult for Jennifer Lawrence to reprise her role as Katniss Everdeen. Adapted from Suzanne Collins’Hunger Gamesnovels,The Hunger Gamesmovieshave become one of the most successful franchises, making an estimated $3.3 billion at the box office.The Hunger Gamesmovies were not only a huge success, but they played a huge role in helpingJennifer Lawrence become a household name.
Although Katniss’ story ended a decade ago, the franchise seen a resurgence. The franchise has expanded with the addition of two newHunger Gamesbooks:The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, andSunrise on the Reaping, which is yet to be released. While there has been an expansion toThe Hunger Gamesseries,Lawrence is not likely going to be part of it, unless there is a reason for Katniss to return to the films.
Hunger Games Shifting To Prequels Makes Jennifer Lawrence’s Return More Difficult
The New Hunger Games Books Are Prequels
AfterThe Hunger Gamesended, Suzanne Collins shifted to writing sequels.The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which detailed president Coriolanus Snow’s rise to power, was released in 2020, with a movie adaptation following three years later. Another prequel,Sunrise on the Reaping,which will focus on Haymitch Abernathy’s Hunger Games,is set to be released on July 08, 2025. Lionsgate announced therelease date ofSunrise on theReaping, the very day they confirmed they would be adapting the latest installment in the franchise into a movie.
The Hunger Games Teased Who Katniss Would End Up With In Its Very First Chapter
The Hunger Games subtly hinted at many of the series' biggest developments, with the first chapter even foreshadowing Katniss' romantic endgame.
Since the latest installments inThe Hunger Gamesfranchise have been prequels, Jennifer Lawrence’s return has become more difficult.The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakeshappened 64 years before Katniss' games, so there was no place for her in the story. Similarly,Sunrise on the Reapingwill occur during a time when Katniss wasn’t even born, so again, there will be no need to include her in the new installment. The only way Jennifer Lawrence can return toThe Hunger Gamesfranchise is if a new book that doesn’t delve into Panem’s history is written.
Katniss Everdeen’s Hunger Games Ending Also Makes A Sequel Complicated To Pull Off
Katniss Everdeen’s Story Is Complete
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2concludedwith Katniss and Peeta getting married and having two children. Katniss was the main protagonist in the first four Hunger Gamesmovies, andher story as the Girl on Fire seems to be complete. Following the events of the Hunger Games and Katniss’s role in helping liberate Panem, it’s unlikely that she would want to return to the chaos of the dystopian country. She chose to live quietly with her husband and children, which, given everything she went through, is a satisfying resolution to her story.
There would have to be a good reason for Katniss’s return to the franchise, especially because there doesn’t seem to be a clear role for her in the books or the movies.
Given howThe Hunger Gamesended, it wouldn’t be easy to bring Katniss back. There would have to be a good reason for Katniss’s return to the franchise, especially because there doesn’t seem to be a clear role for her in the books or the movies.There are simply no loose ends when it comes to Katniss’s story, and the fact that the newHunger Gamesbooks are prequels shows that Suzanne Collins might think so too.
Katniss Could Have A New Story If Suzanne Collins Writes A New Book With Her As The Main Protagonist
During an interview withVariety,Jennifer Lawrence expressed how she felt about returning as KatnissinThe Hunger Gamesfranchise (viaVariety). When the Academy Award-winning actor was asked if she would reprise her role, she said, “Oh my God - totally. If Katniss ever could ever come back into my life, 100 percent.” Although Lawrence would reprise her role as Katniss, it doesn’t seem like there are any more stories that need to be told with that character. The whole essence ofKatniss’s story was for her to assist in ending President Snow’s tyranny, which she did, thus rendering her story complete.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingmovie will be released on August 17, 2025.
The Hunger Games’ producer Nina Jacobson and the franchise’s director, Frank Lawrence, also believe that Katniss' story had a fitting ending (viaVariety). However, Jacobson and Lawrence would be willing to make another movie involving Katniss if a new book was written. While Katniss’s story inThe Hunger Gamesseems to be complete,there is still room for her to be in the franchise. She could maybe play a new role in rebuilding Panem after the civil war or maybe choose another cause she is passionate about to focus on.
The Hunger Games
Cast
The Hunger Games is a dystopian thriller set in Panem, where annually selected tributes from twelve districts compete in a televised battle to the death. The story follows Katniss Everdeen, who must navigate the brutal competition and rely on her instincts and mentor’s guidance to survive and possibly return home.
