Jena Malone, who portrayed the fierce and formidable tribute, Johanna Mason, from District 7 inThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire, recentlyexpressed her enthusiasm at the possibility of returning to the popular franchise should a sequel ever be made. Malone reprized her role from the 2013 movie again inThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Part 2and was a memorable part of the trilogy, and now, in an interview withEntertainment Tonight, the Golden Globe nominee reflected on her time playing the emotionally scarred victor of the 71st Hunger Games as well as a proud participant of the third Quarter Quell.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
When asked about a potential return, Malone excitedly remarked “Come on, where’s Johanna Mason? I’m like, I’m just waiting.” Further elaborating on whether the franchise should do another spin-off, she said:
“Yeah, duh! I mean, and let’s not even do a prequel, let’s do an after. Let’s see what happens in the world, you know, 10 years later. Where does the government land? Where have we gotten in the revolution? I think that’s a really important part of our society. Like, yes you’re able to rebel, but then how do you rebuild?”
A Sequel Could Reveal Johanna’s Journey From Teen to Victor
Collins’ recent prequel novel was adapted for the screen intoThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The movie expanded therich world of the originalHunger Gamesnovels beyond what was already known and chronicled the ill-fated love story of Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Gray Baird. Set decades prior to Katniss Everdeen’s rebellion, it also provided insights into the origin story of President Snow. While Collins’ upcoming dystopian novel,Sunrise on the Reaping, will pose as a sequel toThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesand also possibly mention the Second Quarter Quell, chances of Johanna’s character showing up in a movie adaptation for the same are pretty low.
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However, a potential film set after the Capitol’s downfall orbefore Katniss Everdeen’s iconic volunteeringas tribute could uncover Johanna Mason’s experiences growing up in the lumber industry of District 7 and her struggles with the trauma of her winning the 71st Hunger Games. The movie could also reveal just why Johanna harbors an endless supply of rage towards the Capitol. The former idea could provide rich material for a story that explores her and other tributes’ transformation from teenagers to the hardened shells of a person they become after fighting to death in the wild.
Similarly, whenEntertainment Weeklyspoke to director Francis Lawrence about exploringnew corners of theHunger Gamesworld, his sentiments were not too far from those of Malone’s, but he made sure to mention that, while the chance to work with new performers would be great, he would be more interested in developing familiar characters whose stories are worth telling. To quote:
“I liked being part of the series originally because the stories are great. But what was always gratifying was that they were always about something. Suzanne always writes from a thematic foundation. That’s what makes them feel rich and not superficial, and I think it’s why they’ve stood the test of time, honestly… If Suzanne has another thematic idea that she feels fits into the world of Panem — whether that’s with new people [or] familiar characters – I’d be really interested in looking at it and being a part of it.”
So, whileCollins’ focus remains on new workslikeSunrise on the Reaping, dedicated stars like Jena Malone have made it clear that there is still room for exploring the intricate universe ofThe Hunger Gamesthrough the perspective of known characters, if given the opportunity.
The Hunger Gamesprequel movie,The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, is set for release in 2026.
