The “Hunger Games” franchise is set to release their newest installment “Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” later this month.
While the series began in 2012 with 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 in the lead role of Katniss Everdeen, it’s unlikely that she would ever appear in future films.
Producer Nina Jacobson revealed that any further appearances by Lawrence, 33, is up to “Hunger Games” book series author Suzanne Collins.
“If Suzanne has something to say, then she’ll write a book about it,” Jacobson, 58, told Yahoo! Entertainment recently.
“Honestly, as much as I love Katniss, I think her story is complete,” she went on. “And I think that Suzanne feels that her story is complete.”
Jacobson added: “But if that changes, and Suzanne has something she wants to say, and it involves Katniss, then I would be thrilled.”
“But really, any chance to be back in this world, and lead with [director Francis Lawrence] and Suzanne, I would take regardless of who it was about,” she noted.
Lawrence, 52, who helmed every single “HG” installment including the most recent one, echoed the producer’s sentiments, saying: “If for whatever reason she had some thematic idea that made sense to tell another Katniss story, I’d be in, and then I’m sure Jen would be in.”
“But it really all comes from theme and idea, and Suzanne,” he said.
𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 has been enthusiastic about a possible Katniss return in the past. The “Silver Linings Playbook” star dished to Variety earlier this year that she would be “totally” open to donning her bow and arrow for the role once again.
“If Katniss could ever come back into my life, 100%,” she gushed.
“Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is set to be released in theaters on Nov. 17 and it’s based on Collins’ 2020 book. The film is billed as a prequel to the “Hunger Games” series and stars Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler.
Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis and Jason Schwartzman will also appear.
The flick’s logline from Lionsgate reads: “Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Blythe) is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol.”
“With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler), the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.”
“But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird and a snake.”
