Francis Lawrence Will Return to Direct “The Hunger Games” Prequel Movie

Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games"

Francis Lawrence, the director of three of The Hunger Games films, will be helming the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the prequel novel to Suzanne Collins’ bestselling Hunger Games novels will be available on May 19.

The film will take place 64 years before The Hunger Games and an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, the man who went on to become the authoritarian ruler of Panem and the series villain, will be the titular character. Snow has been chosen to mentor a girl from District 12, the future home of Katniss Everdeen, for the 10th annual Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games was produced by Lionsgate and the four films in the franchise The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching FireThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, grossed over $2.97 billion worldwide.

Joe Drake, chairman of Lionsgate said, “‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ is creatively thrilling and takes this world to complex new dimensions that open up amazing cinematic possibilities.”

No cast or release date has been announced.