THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES: Lionsgate Brings ‘The Hunger Games’ Team Back For Prequel Development
Lionsgate is moving forward with an adaptation of “The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes”, as announced by Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman, Joe Drake on Tuesday.
Author Suzanne Collins penned the novel which is set prior to the events of her hit book series, The Hunger Games, which launched in 2008 and became a three-billion dollar success between four live-action films from 2012 through 2015. The film series also became a cornerstone for many a film franchise in service to audiences and fans around the world keen on young adult IPs, including Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight and Veronica Roth’s Divergent.
The prequel will focus on the role of 18 year old Coriolanus Snow, years before becoming the tyrannical President of Panem. He is handsome and charming, and though the Snow family has fallen on hard times, he sees a chance for a change in his fortunes when he is chosen to be a mentor for the Tenth Hunger Games…only to have his elation dashed when he is assigned to mentor the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.
Donald Sutherland played the antagonistic ruler of the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem in all four films under Gary Ross (The Hunger Games), and Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part One, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part Two).
The studio is bringing Lawrence back into the fold as director with Collins penning the treatment, and Oscar-winning and nominated Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3, Catching Fire) scripting. Hunger Games vet Nina Jacobson is also returning to produce with her Color Force partner, Brad Simpson, serving in a producorial capacity. Additionally, Collins will exec produce the pic.
“Suzanne’s new book has been worth the wait.” said Drake. “It offers everything fans could hope for and expect from The Hunger Games while also breaking new ground and introducing an entirely new canvas of characters. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is creatively thrilling and takes this world to complex new dimensions that open up amazing cinematic possibilities. We’re thrilled to reunite this filmmaking team with this very unique franchise, and we can’t wait to begin production.”
“Lionsgate has always been the cinematic home of The Hunger Games, and I’m delighted to be returning to them with this new book,” said Collins. “From the beginning, they have treated the source material with great respect, honoring the thematic and narrative elements of the story, and assembling an incredible team both in front of and behind the camera. It’s such a pleasure to be reuniting with Nina, Francis, and Michael to adapt the novel to the screen, and having them share their remarkable talents, once again, with the world of Panem. I look forward to collaborating with them and all at Lionsgate as we bring The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to theaters worldwide.”
Billed as “one of the most eagerly awaited publishing events of the year”, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will hit print, digital and audio formats from Scholastic in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on May 19.
The deal was overseen by Drake, who bought the original book during his previous tenure at the studio as head of the motion picture group. With the release of the new book, Drake made The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes a priority for Lionsgate.
Jim Miller, the Lionsgate executive who has served as the studio’s project executive on all of the franchise’s films, will oversee the production. Patricia Laucella and Phil Strina oversaw the rights for the book as well as all talent deals for Lionsgate.
Collins was represented by Jason Dravis from The Dravis Agency and Diane Golden and Jennifer Justman from the law firm Katz Golden Lerner LLP. Lawrence is represented by CAA and 3 Arts as well as Gretchen Bruggeman-Rush at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller & Hoberman. Jacobson was represented by Julian Zajfen at Ziffren Brittenham. Arndt is repped by Verve and McKuin, Frankel & Whitehead.
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