24 October 2023 , 13:25
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The Hunger Games is to be remade but with an epic twist as it arrives at London's West End.
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson took the lead roles in the dystopian film franchise, which originated from the books of the same name. But while the last movie, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is yet to be released, fans won't have long to wait for the remake.
It's believed the theatre show will appear on stage next year and will debut in December, with Olivier Award-winning playwright Conor McPherson behind the script, while Matthew Dunster will lead as the director. Although the casting is being kept under wraps, the news has finally been confirmed.
The Hunger Games is set to be transformed into a West End production (Lions Gate Films)Suzanne Collins, the author behind the franchise confirmed that the play will take on the first book which was reinvented for the 2012 movie. Suzanne said: "I'm very excited to be collaborating with the amazing team of Conor McPherson and Matthew Dunster as they bring their dynamic and innovative interpretation of The Hunger Games to the London stage."
Elsewhere, Conor McPherson said: "To receive Suzanne Collins' blessing to adapt The Hunger Games for the stage is both humbling and inspiring. She has created a classic story which continues to resonate now more than ever. In a world where the truth itself seems increasingly up for grabs, The Hunger Games beautifully expresses values of resilience, self-reliance and independent moral inquiry for younger people especially.
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"This is turbo-charged storytelling of the highest order and I'm hugely excited to bring it to a new generation of theatregoers and to Suzanne Collins' longstanding and devoted fans." Dunster commented: "As soon as the producers said the title, I just said 'Stop! I'm in'," explaining that he was a huge fan of the film franchise.
He added: "My children had their heads in the books at the time (it's definitely the ONLY work call of mine they've been excited about) so I stole them and I came to appreciate the beauty of Suzanne Collins' storytelling. This is theatre. It's The Hunger Games in the theatre." He added that the team for the production will be "world-class" in order to bring the best theatrical experience to fans.
The books which are set in a dystopian reality see individuals from 12 different districts battle it out as they fight to the death. The main heroine, Katiness Everdeen, played by Lawrence, is from an impoverished district and later becomes the figurehead.