‘The Hunger Games' prequel movie in the works

Lionsgate revealed that a long-anticipated The Hunger Games prequel movie is in the works, as trilogy writer Suzanne Collins is set to release her latest novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snake on May 19.

The first three books in Collins' series—The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay—have more than 100 million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into 52 languages. Lionsgate adapted these books into four feature films that grossed close to three billion worldwide. In 2012, the company debuted the first of four blockbuster movies based on the novels, which starred Jennifer Lawrence.

The latest novel will be adapted by director Francis Lawrence, screenwriter Michael Arndt and producer Nina Jacobson. Lawrence directed Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Mockingjay Part 2.

Suzanne Collins will contribute to the screenplay, alongside Michael Arndt, the Oscar-winning screenwriter who previously worked as one of the writers of Catching Fire. Collins also will serve as an executive producer.

The prequel movie will focus on Coriolanus Snow at age 18, years before he became the tyrannical President of Panem. The cast of the film has not been finalised yet.