Get ready to see more women at the multiplex.
If you’re a “Hunger Games” fan who won’t be ready to say goodbye to Katniss and the gang when “Mockingjay — Part 2” opens on November 20th, here’s some good news: Lionsgate is eager to keep the franchise alive too. And given the enormous popularity of the books and the film series, it certainly seems the odds are in their favor — and ours. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer recently told analysts that he’s “actively looking at some development and thinking about prequel and sequel possibilities.”
There’s no word yet on whether Suzanne Collins, who wrote the YA books the movie franchise is based on, would be involved. Equally unclear is if Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss will be featured, though the novels and films did such a good job of building a well-developed universe that it’s certainly conceivable for the franchise to go on without her. Here’s hoping that if Katniss is gone, another soon-to-be-iconic female protagonist will follow in her footsteps.
In other big news for female-led franchises, two “Fifty Shades of Grey” sequels are coming our way. While the first installment of the series, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, won’t hit theaters until February 14, fans of the E.L. James books are getting an early Valentine’s treat with the announcement that “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed” will also be made into movies. The news was announced at a fan screening on Friday.
Greenlighting two sequels before the first film has been released — and its opening numbers calculated — may seem like a bold move, but consider that “Fifty Shades of Grey” is already Fandango’s fastest-selling R-rated movie ever. The audience has spoken: more movies to see with our girlfriends, please!
[via Deadline and The A.V. Club]