The Hunger Games: How It Confronts The Prequel Problem

As The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes graced cinemas worldwide, audiences experienced a potent mix of anticipation and scepticism, given the historically tricky nature of prequels in cinematic endeavours. The film, however, not only accepted the challenge but defied the trend of poorly-executed prequels by balancing the expectations of a dedicated fanbase and delivering a compelling plot with nuanced characters within the well-established Hunger Games franchise. 

A pivotal factor that sets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes apart is the intricate character development of its protagonist, Coriolanus Snow. Plunged into a world where he grapples with influences ranging from kind-hearted individuals such as his friend Sejanus and love interest Lucy Gray to more malevolent figures like head gamemaker Dr Gaul and games creator Dean Highbottom, Snow's journey is an exploration of conflicting emotions and ideas. Even Highbottom, portrayed as seemingly cruel, is revealed to be haunted by the consequences of his choices, offering layers to the narrative. 

Snow's connection to the inception of the Hunger Games adds a profound dimension to his character. His father's involvement in creating the games sets the stage for a narrative where Snow faces opposition from the outset. Yet, the prequel provides him with a chance for redemption and an escape from his predetermined fate. Instead of focusing solely on the actual games, the film delves into the genesis of the Hunger Games, allowing viewers to witness Snow suggesting ideas that eventually become lore, providing deeper insight into his character through the choices he makes. 

One common challenge with prequels is the predictability stemming from the audience's knowledge of the fate of pre-existing characters. While this could have been a stumbling block for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the film successfully navigates this issue by crafting a narrative centered on the ‘how' and ‘why' rather than the ‘what'. By exploring Snow's motivations, the film sustains audience engagement, offering a fresh perspective despite the known endpoint. 

In an era where studios often revisit old stories, mostly for profit, resulting in lacklustre sequels or prequels, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes distinguishes itself by providing a meaningful contribution to the Hunger Games universe. Rather than merely capitalising on a familiar brand, the film enriches the lore and deepens the understanding of the world created by Collins. A film that does the opposite of this is Prometheus, the Alien prequel, which reveals far too much information about the xenemorph to screen, thus ruining the mystery and intrigue set by the original story and slashing the horror element down. Meanwhile, the prequel remake Halloween and Halloween II films both have this same problem, opting to ground Michael Myers and his family in reality, giving unnecessary context to his history. This diminishes his supernatural element, which is crucial to the terror and fear created by the original film. 

Disney is the largest company currently flogging the cash cow that is the prequel and it has been doing so for many years. During the rise of the live action remake, we have seen the introduction of the prequel on Disney's part, especially when considering the villain of each piece. Maleficent is a prime example of this, giving a backstory to the enemy we know from Sleeping Beauty and creating a more well-rounded character. It also brought out Cruella in 2021, which drew in audiences. In some cases a prequel works and in some it doesn't. Disney has managed to do well with its choices when it comes to this. 

Crafting prequels introduces unique challenges in storytelling, from balancing fan expectations and maintaining narrative coherence to introducing novelty within established canon. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes adeptly addresses these challenges by respecting existing lore, offering fresh perspectives on familiar characters, and constructing a narrative that holds merit when viewed independently of its franchise. 

The film successfully bucks the trend of badly-made prequels by navigating the narrative pitfalls inherent in these. It manages to achieve a delicate balance by striking a harmony between fan expectations and original storytelling, while adhering to established lore, providing fresh perspectives, and emphasising character development over solely relying on the games themselves. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes not only expands and deepens the lore of the Hunger Games universe but also contributes to the broader tapestry of storytelling in the cinematic landscape. It stands as a testament to the notion that, when handled with finesse and creativity, prequels can offer a rich and satisfying cinematic experience that transcends the constraints of their predetermined endings.