Movies

The Hunger Games Has the Perfect Sequel to Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (And It Doesn’t Involve President Snow)

BBG News

The franchise known as “The Hunger Games” makes its return, with author Suzanne Collins publishing a second sequel to her renowned dystopian series. Titled “Sunrise on the Reaping“, the book is set 24 years before the initial novel’s events and follows Haymitch Abernathy during his participation in the 50th Hunger Games and Second Quarter Quell. This novel explores the escalating unrest among the Districts preceding Katniss’s appearance on the scene in the original trilogy, shedding light on previously undisclosed details that alter viewers’ perspectives of certain characters. A film adaptation of “Sunrise on the Reaping” is slated to premiere in theaters on November 20, 2026, representing the sixth movie within the “Hunger Games” franchise.

Following the publication of “Sunrise on the Reaping“, fans have been speculating about who could potentially take charge in Collins’s next Hunger Games book. Several character names have surfaced, with Finnick Odair, Johanna Mason, and other Victors from the Hunger Games being the most frequently mentioned as likely contenders to lead. However, an intriguing prequel might not center around a Hunger Games Victor but instead focus on another crucial character instrumental in overthrowing the Capitol: President Alma Coin of District 13. Such a prequel would serve to develop a significantly underdeveloped aspect of Panem, and it would provide Suzanne Collins an opportunity to create a spiritual successor to her first Hunger Games prequel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes“.

The Hunger Games Needs to Explore Alma Coin’s Backstory

The President of District 13 Needs to Have Her Story Told

In the aftermath of the Dark Days, District 13 covertly rebuilt itself beneath the radar of the other districts following their uprising against the Capitol. Alma Coin, a key figure in this hidden society, rose to power and eventually became its President. Suzanne Collins’s upcoming book could delve into Coin’s life story, tracing her journey from her youth in the secretive underbelly of District 13 to her ascension as its leader. Since we don’t encounter Coin until the last installment of the original trilogy, a prequel focusing on her character would offer valuable insight into her background and how her unique upbringing shaped her over the years.

A series focusing on President Coin could delve into her transformation, showing how she morphs from being admired as a savior by District 13 residents and liberator for much of Panem, into someone as villainous as President Snow, as portrayed in the concluding sections of “Mockingjay.” In the aftermath of the revolution, Coin gives the order to detonate a bomb, fully aware that a group of youngsters will be within its blast radius. Following the Capitol’s collapse, she assumes control and proposes a symbolic final Hunger Games involving the children of the city, including Snow’s granddaughter. These actions convince Katniss that Coin is not the hero she presents herself to be, prompting her to publicly execute Panem’s new leader, thereby liberating the nation from another tyrant. This portrayal of Alma Coin’s journey would underscore the heroism of Katniss’s actions in “Mockingjay” and provide additional layers to the climax of the Hunger Games trilogy.

A Coin Sequel Would Be a Perfect Successor to the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

President Coin’s Story Mirrors That of Coriolanus Snow

In essence, a spinoff based on Alma Coin could be considered a spiritual sequel, given its connection to Suzanne Collins’ prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” This novel delves into the early life of Coriolanus Snow, sixty-four years prior to the events in “The Hunger Games,” providing readers with an intriguing look at his transformation from a struggling boy in a Capitol recovering from the Dark Days, to a corrupt individual who eventually sets foot on the path to becoming the oppressive president portrayed in the “Hunger Games” trilogy. Essentially, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” offers an enthralling account of a villain’s origin story, following a young man grappling with his darker impulses as he evolves into one of literature’s most ruthless characters. It’s important to note that Snow isn’t the only ruthless antagonist in the “Hunger Games” series.

Though Alma Coin may not appear as wicked as Coriolanus Snow in the Hunger Games books, she is equally villainous, albeit given fewer chances to showcase her malevolent side. A prequel focusing on this character could mirror the narrative arc of Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Just as the first Hunger Games prequel depicted Snow’s transformation into a tyrant, a Coin prequel can trace the journey of the District 13 girl as she uncovers her own villainous side but chooses a different path. Unlike Snow, Coin hides her wickedness beneath a veneer of goodness and heroism. Her tale would be more intricate, as she finds ways to climb the ladder by earning respect and honor rather than through violence. Despite being equally ruthless as her Capitol counterpart, Coin’s inner thoughts would be pivotal in narrating her story, revealing her true nature despite her noble deeds. With these two stories side by side, Suzanne Collins could expose the idea that they are, in essence, two sides of the same coin.

The upcoming “Hunger Games” prequel shouldn’t be based in District 12 or the Capitol. Instead, the book should explore a different setting where a character as wicked as Coriolanus Snow emerges and climbs the leadership ladder. By unfolding Alma Coin’s previously unknown background, Suzanne Collins could create a compelling sequel to “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and a genuine prequel to “Mockingjay,” providing a more immersive exploration of the world of Panem and the “Hunger Games.

Read More

2025-05-18 01:54

Previous post Jessie J: Marriage Not a Priority — We’re Growing Closer with Our Son Sky
Next post Star Wars Turns Cassian Andor Into Disney’s New Anakin Skywalker Replacement