There has already been plenty of controversy over Lionsgate’s decision to split the finalThe Hunger Gamesnovel bySuzanne Collinsinto a two-part movie finale, withThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2set to hit theater this November, following last year’sThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. While most fans assume this would be the end of the franchise,Deadlinereports that Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer is seeking ways to extend their lucrative movie series. Here’s what the studio CEO told investors earlier this morning.
“(We are) actively looking at some development and thinking about prequel and sequel possibilities.”
It’s easy to see why the studio would want to keep this franchise going, since the first three movies,The Hunger Games,The Hunger Games: Catching FireandThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1have earned $1.1 billion at the domestic box office, and $2.2 billion worldwide. No concrete details have been released about any prequel or sequel ideas forThe Hunger Games, and it isn’t known if authorSuzanne Collins, who has produced all of the adaptations, will be involved.
Extending a franchise beyond the original source material is an emerging trend. Warner Bros. is currently working on a spinoff to theirHarry Potterfranchise withFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which is set for release next November and will start a whole new trilogy. The story is set several decades before Harry Potter ever set foot in Hogwarts. Even Lionsgate’sTwilightfranchise is continuing with a series of short films, with authorStephenie Meyerand starKristen Stewartselecting five female filmmakers to make short films set in theTwilightuniverse.
What do you think about these new developments? Would you like to see prequels and/or sequels forThe Hunger Games, or do you think the franchise should end with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2? Tell us what you think, and stay tuned for more developments onThe Hunger Gamesuniverse.
