New Hunger Games Production Debuting This Week
The Fall of 2024 is set to mark a significant milestone in the world of theater with the first-ever live stage adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ widely acclaimed novel, The Hunger Games. The novel, which is the first in Collins’ series and was adapted into a successful film franchise by Lionsgate, has been translated into a theatrical production by five-time Tony-nominated playwright Conor McPherson (Girl From the North Country), according to The Hollywood Reporter. The production will be directed by Matthew Dunster (Hangmen).
A stage adaptation of The Hunger Games will premiere in London next Fall.
In a press release announcing the project, Suzanne Collins expressed her excitement to be collaborating with Conor McPherson and Matthew Dunster as they adapt her novel for the London stage.
She shared her eagerness to see how their adaptation will transform The Hunger Games. McPherson echoed her enthusiasm, expressing how honored and inspired he feels to have Collins’ blessing, while also appreciating the message and relevance of the story.
The Hunger Games is set in a future world where the government, known as the Capitol, holds power over the 12 districts. Every year, as a form of control and punishment for a past rebellion, each district must send one boy and one girl, known as tributes, to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised event in which the tributes must fight to the death until only one remains. Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen from District 12 volunteers to take her sister’s place in the games and must use her wits and skills to survive.
The prequel film The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes hits theaters November 17.
The stage production of The Hunger Games boasts a creative team including Miriam Buether as set designer, Moi Tran as costume designer, Charlotte Broom as choreographer, Lucy Carter as lighting designer, Ian Dickinson as sound designer, Tal Rosner as video designer, Kev McCurdy as fight director, Amy Ball as casting director, Gary Beestone as production manager, and John Maddox for Suspended Illusions as performer flying.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Aside from stage production of The Hunger Games, the novel series has continued to expand its universe with the 2020 addition of the prequel installment titled The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which has been adapted into a film set to release in November.
The previous films in the franchise, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay – Part 1, and Mockingjay – Part 2, have already grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is expected to significantly contribute to this impressive global box office figure, even without the involvement of Jennifer Lawrence, who portrayed Katniss Everdeen in the previous films.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set years before Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) rises to become the oppressive president of Panem and follows his story as an 18-year-old trying to restore his family’s diminishing glory.
As the 10th annual Hunger Games approach, Snow is perturbed to find himself mentoring Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from District 12. Together, Snow and Baird combine their flair for showmanship and political cunning in a race against time that unveils their true natures as either songbirds or snakes.
