A new installment for Lionsgate’s $3.3B franchise has been greenlit, and once again it’s a prequel, set 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Considering the last installment, which lacked Jennifer Lawrence, failed to replicate the success of the original trilogy, it’ll be interesting to see if Lionsgate can set things right this time.
In order to ensure the new prequel avoids the shortcomings of the 2023 release, the studio should take notes on what made the first one special. The foremost aspect that the Lawrence-led film nailed was its protagonist, which turned out to be a great role model that kids and young adults can look up to. But it might not have been the case if it wasn’t for Lawrence, who refused to yield to the studio’s decisions regarding how Katniss should appear.
Jennifer Lawrence Wanted Katniss to Be a Good Role Model to Kids and Teens
Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games | Lionsgate
It’s not uncommon for actors to be pressured into losing weight in order to fit certain roles, especially since the rise of superhero films, as actors are expected to have the perfect physique. While in certain cases, losing or gaining pounds actually adds to the character they are playing, in many cases, it just creates unrealistic expectations for viewers.
Speaking on this matter, Jennifer Lawrence acknowledged that the industry doesn’t take enough responsibility for its impact on society. As a result, when she was asked to lose 10 pounds for The Hunger Games in order to match Katniss’ description in the books, she refused. The Red Sparrow actress reasoned that she didn’t want her character to be depicted as something unobtainable, stressing kids and teens should’ve healthy role models to look up to.
A still from The Hunger Games | Lionsgate
She revealed (via SciFiNow):
In the first movie, when it was obviously being talked about, like, ‘It’s ‘The Hunger Games,’ you have to lose 10 pounds,’ I was like, ‘We have control over this image; we have control over this role model. ‘Why would we make her something unobtainable and thin?’ This is a person that young girls — well, all women, but mainly young girls — will be looking up to and are going to want to look like her, and we have control over it, so why not make her strong? Why not make her beautiful healthy and fit? I was very adamant about that,
While on paper it doesn’t seem like a big deal, especially for Lawrence, who has attained incredible feats over the years, it inspired young girls to be more confident and comfortable with themselves.
Francis Lawrence in Talks to Helm His Fifth Film in the Franchise
Francis Lawrence | Credit: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons
After Gary Ross’ first installment in the franchise turned out to be a huge hit, filmmaker Francis Lawrence took over its reins and has directed four films since. Per reports, the director is once again in talks to helm Sunrise On The Reaping, based on Suzanne Collins’ latest novel. Speaking of the prequel, which is set 24 years before the events of the original trilogy, the author shared she is excited about this new chapter, stressing Lionsgate has been a great home to the IP.
From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for The Hunger Games franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026
Considering the Rachel Zegler-led film wasn’t received greatly among fans of the franchise, fans will hope Lionsgate focuses on creating strong characters like Katniss for the prequel to succeed.
Sunrise On The Reaping will hit theatres on March 18, 2025.
