Credit: LionsgateAnother adaptation of The Hunger Games is on the way later this year.
Since debuting in 2008, the dystopian trilogy penned by Suzanne Collins rapidly became a cultural phenomenon. Set in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, the series follows Katniss Everdeen as she navigates a deadly televised competition known as the Hunger Games. Its exploration of themes such as government control, rebellion, and survival resonated with readers and soon sparked a global film franchise with Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role.
Hollywood being Hollywood, a prequel was later released. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – published by Collins a few years before an adaptation starring Rachel Zegler hit theaters – delves into the backstory of Coriolanus Snow, the future president of Panem. Set 64 years before Katniss Everdeen’s time, the story explores Snow’s rise to power, offering fans a deeper understanding of the ruthless political system that defines the series.
An additional prequel is due for publication this year. Sunrise on the Reaping is set to follow Katniss’s mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, through his own Hunger Games, AKA the Second Quarter Quell. Like The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a film adaptation will also premiere in 2026.
‘The Hunger Games’ Reboot
Before that day comes, however, we have yet another adaptation on the way.
The first-ever live stage adaptation of The Hunger Games will kick off on October 20 at the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre – a new 1,200-seat venue located in London’s Canary Wharf.
Award-winning playwright Conor McPherson has rebooted the first book for the stage, with director Matthew Dunster at the helm of the production. The show’s cast has yet to be announced, meaning we don’t yet know who will step into the roles of Katniss and her fellow District 12 citizens Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne, and Primrose Everdeen, or those she meets in Panem and during the Games, such a Effie Trinket, Cato, Clove, and Rue.
Suzanne Collins herself shared a statement on the adaptation. “I’m thrilled that ‘The Hunger Games’ is in the hands of gifted playwright Conor McPherson and accomplished director Matthew Dunster,” she said. “Conor has done a fantastic adaptation, which is quite unique from the screenplay. And Matthew’s immersive, dynamic staging gives the audience a brand-new way to experience the story.”
This isn’t the first popular franchise to receive a stage adaptation. The Harry Potter franchise currently boasts productions on Broadway and the West End, where Harry Potter and the Cursed Child follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione and their children in a magical adventure. Meanwhile, Percy Jackson & The Olympians has also inspired a stage show, as has Stranger Things.
Do you think The Hunger Games will make a good stage show?