The Hunger Games prequel novel, set 64 years before first book, to hit stands in May 2020

Almost a decade after wrapping up The Hunger Games, American TV writer and author Suzanne Collins is bringing fans back to Panem. A prequel of the famous book series, set around 64 years before the beginning of the trilogy is releasing next year, reported The Hollywood Reporter. [caption id=“attachment_6839461” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  The book is set before the lifetime of Hunger Games’ heroine Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence in the movie franchise. Image from Twitter[/caption] The yet-untitled novel is scheduled to come out on 19 May, 2020. Collins said in a statement on 17 June that she would go back to the years following the Dark Days, the failed rebellion in Panem. The author set the Hunger Games books in a post-apocalyptic dystopia, where people must fight and kill each other on live television. “With this book, I wanted to explore the state of nature, who we are and what we perceive is required for our survival,” she said. The book is set before the lifetime of Hunger Games heroine Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence in the billion-dollar movie franchise. Rest of the details including the new book’s contents and featured characters are being kept under wraps. Lionsgate had earlier released the four Hunger Games films, and the studio’s vice chairman, Michael Burns, has also suggested a prequel based on the upcoming novel. The first three Hunger Games books - The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and _Mockingjay_  have sold more than 100 million copies and have been translated into more than 50 languages. Although Collins was actively involved in the production of the Hunger Games film series, she appeared done with the novels after the publication of Mockingjay in 2010. Her most recent book came out in 2013: The picture story: Year of the Jungle and was based on the time in Vietnam served by Collins’ father, a career Air Force officer.