London is volunteering to host the first stage adaptation of the play „The Hunger Games,” based on the best-selling books by Suzanne Collins and the blockbuster film franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence.
Matthew Dunster (“Hangmen”) is directing and playwright Conor McPherson (“The Girl from the North”) is adapting the live theater production. (And may the odds always be in their favor.) It will debut in London in the fall of 2024.
The drama is based on the first book in Collins’ dystopian series, which revolves around a televised battle royale in which young tributes are chosen by lottery to fight to the death. The story picks up as Katniss Everdeen, the character who catapulted Lawrence to stardom, volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in the 74th annual Hunger Games. A press release calls the stage version „a gripping tale of courage, resistance and the unbreakable human spirit.”
„I am thrilled to be working 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,” Collins wrote in a statement.
Among other stage shows, including „The Weir,” „The Seafarer” and „Shining City,” McPherson called it „humbling and inspiring” to receive Collins’ blessing to adapt „The Hunger Games” for the stage.
„He has created a classic story that resonates now more than ever,” he said. „In a world where truth seems to be at a premium, 'The Hunger Games’ beautifully captures the values of resilience, self-reliance and independent moral inquiry for young people. It’s turbo-charged storytelling of the highest order and I’m thrilled to bring it to a new generation of theatergoers and Suzanne Collins’ longtime and devoted fans.”
Dunster was equally happy to take over the world of Panem. The theater veteran, who has directed or written more than 60 shows and received five Tony nominations, says being cast in the show was „probably the most exciting job call I’ve ever had.”
„As soon as the producers said the title, I was like, 'Stop! I’m in,'” says Dunster. „I loved the movie Lionsgate and the brutal and emotional power of this dystopian classic. My kids had their heads in books at the time (of course my only calling was that they were excited) so I stole them away and admired the beauty of Suzanne Collins’ storytelling. This is theater. It’s 'The Hunger Games’ in the theater. .We have teamed up with a world-class team, fully immersed in the novel and film, and aim to make unique, thrilling plays.
„The Hunger Games” is produced by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons’ Runaway Entertainment, Oliver Royds POS Productions and Isobel David in association with Lionsgate.
The original „Hunger Games” novel was published in 2008, and two sequels and four movies followed. Those films grossed a combined $3 billion at the worldwide box office. Lionsgate has developed a prequel to „The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” starring Tom Blythe and Rachel Zegler, which opens in theaters Nov. 17.
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