Since Katniss Everdeen first drew her bow in 2008, The Hunger Games has become a cultural touchstone, spinning tales of rebellion, sacrifice, and the brutal machinery of the Capitol. Suzanne Collins has expanded this universe with prequels like The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and the upcoming Sunrise on the Reaping, set to hit shelves on November 20th. But fans are already hungry for more—and there's no shortage of untold stories lurking in Panem's bloody past.
From the earliest Games to the tragic fates of beloved victors, here are five prequel ideas that could deliver the same gut-punch of emotion and intrigue we've come to expect.
The First Victor: Where It All Began
The Games have run for 75 years, yet we've only seen a handful of them. Songbirds and Snakes took us back to the 10th, but what about the very first? A prequel centered on the inaugural Hunger Games would be a chilling origin story—showing how the Capitol cemented its power and what it took to survive when the rules were still being written. The first victor would be a legend, but also a pawn, and their story could illuminate the brutal foundation of Panem's most infamous tradition.
Cashmere and Gloss: Siblings of Steel
In Catching Fire, we met Cashmere and Gloss, the deadly brother-sister duo from District 1. They're little more than background players in the Quarter Quell, but their backstory is ripe for exploration. How did they both win their Games? What was life like in the wealthiest district, where being a victor is a status symbol? A prequel following their rise—and their inevitable fall—could offer a fresh perspective on the Capitol's favoritism and the price of privilege.
Mags: The Heart of the Games
Mags, the elderly victor from District 4, has always been a quiet presence—first in Catching Fire and now in Sunrise on the Reaping. She won the 11th Games, just a year after Lucy Gray's disappearance, and went on to mentor countless tributes with a kindness that seems impossible in such a cruel world. A prequel following Mags through decades of loss and resilience would be a heartbreaking character study, showing how she maintained her humanity while the Capitol tried to strip it away.
Plutarch Heavensbee: The Mastermind
Plutarch is one of the most enigmatic figures in the series—a Gamemaker who secretly worked for the rebellion. His dual life offers a unique lens on Panem's politics. A prequel from his point of view could trace the seeds of the uprising, showing how a man inside the Capitol's inner circle came to betray it. It would be a spy thriller wrapped in a dystopian tragedy, and it would finally give this underrated character the spotlight he deserves.
Finnick Odair: The Tragic Hero
Finnick is arguably the most beloved victor of them all. His charm masked a harrowing past—sold by the Capitol, forced to play their games long after his own Hunger Games ended. A prequel following his early years as a victor would be both devastating and essential, exposing the Capitol's exploitation of its champions. It would also deepen our understanding of his fierce loyalty to the rebellion and his ultimate sacrifice. For fans, this is the prequel that would hurt the most—and the one we need most.
These are just a few possibilities. Whether Collins chooses to explore a new corner of Panem or revisit a familiar face, one thing is certain: the world of The Hunger Games still has plenty of stories to tell. And if the past is any indication, they'll be as gripping as they are gut-wrenching.
