Hunger Games Fan Question | You Asked, We Answered

So with our latest Fan Question we asked you to ask us the questions you couldn’t at the Fiction to Film Convention in Chicago. You could have asked us pretty much anything, whether it be about The Hunger Games Trilogy or about our work on the site. And here’s how we answered some of your questions.

Fan Questions:

If you could have any extra background information on any character in the series who would it be and why?

Summer- I would want more background info on Johanna. What happened to her family. What her games were like and who she really was.

Audrey- Mine would probably be Haymitch. I want to know what exactly happened to his family and understand the hopelessness he must have felt while trying to defy the Capitol. I’m sure he felt fear, and then hope when he saw how Katniss did what she did. Also how much of a difference his lifestyle was before and after the games. 

Kelsey- I would love to have extra background information on President Snow. I’d like to see his development into the twisted leader we know at this point and what in his life led him to be the person he is.

Hamilton- I’d like to know more about Plutarch – what was it about his life that made him want to rebel?  Was that something he had in mind when he became a gamemaker, or did being so involved in the games change his perspective?

Jacqui- Cinna.  I would love to know exactly what Cinna thought of the Capitol and if he was in touch with others that felt the same way as he did and what exactly was his part in promoting Katniss as the face of the rebellion.

We all want more THG. How could Ms. Collins go about writing more books in this series?

Summer-I was hoping one day maybe a prequel. To let everyone know what the Dark Days were exactly, how they came about and what the rest of the world is like.

Audrey- I don’t think she could add to Katniss’ story. It didn’t have the closure I wanted… but opening it up again would frustrate me. Leave it be. It would be interesting to hear stories of Annie and Finnick, Haymitch, Cinna, Effie, and other characters back stories. 

Kelsey - She could go back in time and show the development of Panem, the end of the first Civil War and the start of The Hunger Games. I think Katniss and her story has been told as much as it should and it would be a mistake to add on to that.

Hamilton- I don’t think she will, but there a few ways it could be done.  My favorite idea would be to write a book about Haymitch’s time as a tribute/victor.  The downside, of course, would be that we all know how it ends, but I think there is an interesting story there that could be told.

Jacqui- I would love her to write a prequel, explaining a bit more about Panem and the world in wich Katniss now lives in.

Why didn’t they split up Catching Fire?

Summer- I would have suspected the separation of Catching Fire over Mockingjay but I assume that Lionsgate has their reasons. I would assume they could probably spend less time on the tributes coming home or even on the victory tour in the new movie but we are just going to have to wait and see what happens.

Audrey- I’m not sure how the movie will be… It does seem a lot to cram in to one movie, but at the same time it would be boring with it split into before the arena and in the arena. I trust that it will be done right. All the mental character development doesn’t translate in a movie very well, so they’ll have to work around it. 

Kelsey - Because they are very very silly.

Okay not really, but if there was a book to split I think I would pick Catching Fire over Mockingjay – simply because I think Catching Fire has a lot more substance to fit into the one movie. However, I much prefer stories told in one sitting and would like that none of the books be split. But more than that, I want the movies to do justice to the books. I love Catching Fire, and personally want nearly every detail of it to be told, and if they were to split it they could do that much more feasibly.

Hamilton- From a marketing standpoint it doesn’t make sense – The Hunger Games movie brought in a lot of new fans that have not read the books.  If they split up Catching Fire they run the risk of the first half of the story not being interesting enough to keep the new fans who don’t know where it’s headed.  Splitting the conclusion though pretty much guarantees that anyone who sees the first half will come back for the final chapter.

Jacqui- I wish they weren’t splitting up Mockingjay, so in the same way, I’d hate it if they split up Catching Fire.

What character from the Hunger Games do you think you’re most like? What character do you wish to be most like?

Summer-I am most like Katniss. I went through some pretty traumatic experiences in my young life and was diagnosed with PTSD and Anxiety Disorder so I know some of the feelings and thought that were running through her head after what happened to her in her games and the war. I think I would wish to be more like Peeta. His steadiness in every situation is inspiring in a world of turmoil. He has this amazing capability to love and that is something I find really hard in my personal life to have.

Audrey- Gale. I think that’s why I loved him so much. We have the same attitude about life, love, and war. Maybe that’s why I was so angry when Katniss didn’t end up with him. AND I don’t think it was his fault Prim is dead either. He got a bad rep from some for that. 

Kelsey - I think I am most like Katniss. Like her, I can some times be oblivious to attention being paid to me or the effect I can have on people. I also think the way I would handle the Capitol’s threats would be similar. I know I would do most anything to protect my family and loved ones, including playing President Snow’s game. I wish I could be more like Cinna. His bravery and courage to stand up to the Capitol in such a powerful way is admirable. I think in a lot of ways he lit the spark and fanned the flames for the rebellion, making it a possibility. 

Hamilton- I always thought I was a bit like Foxface.  If I was in that situation I think I would do what she did – try to survive by not being seen and with my wits.  Like Foxface I can also be too clever for my own good sometimes.

Jacqui- I think I’m most like Katniss in so far as I can be a bit reactionary when I’m not sure what’s going on.  I can be a bit of a hot head if I think someone is trying to get one over me, but I would actually like to be most like Cinna.  I admire people who can bring about change in a quiet and understated way; those people that can actually have a powerful impact by making their own statement in their own way, without any need for a big fuss or recognition.

I was wondering about the volunteering policy surrounding the tributes… If a tribute volunteers, is the tribute who was initially chosen automatically off the hook or do they have the option to override a tribute who volunteers?

Summer-Good Question and I haven’t got the faintest idea. I would assume that the person is off the hook and that there cannot be any overrides. Nor do I think someone can volunteer in the place for a volunteer.

Audrey- Wow – I have no idea. I think the original tribute would be able to overrule it… but not too sure.

Kelsey - Great question. If it were the case that multiple volunteers were allowed, I’m guessing the person whose name was drawn would take precedence, so they will be reaped. But if that was allowed, why would Haymitch allow Peeta to volunteer for him in the 75th Hunger Games without volunteering right back? Katniss and Haymitch had a plan to keep Peeta alive, so if Haymitch was allowed to overrule Peeta’s sacrifice, he would have also volunteered to stop him from being reaped. Being that it doesn’t happen, I would guess the first to volunteer is the one who is reaped, and no further volunteers are allowed.

Hamilton- I would guess that this is a possibility.  The book mentions that in districts where volunteering is an honor, the process can get complicated and there’s a protocol for how it takes place so I’m sure there are all sorts of rules about that.

Jacqui- That’s a great question.  I would imagine the original tribute that was reaped would be able to veto the volunteer and put themselves in, no matter who comes forward, but that’s just a guess.

 Thanks for the great Fan Questions everyone! Keep them coming and we will keep answering what we can.

Related posts:

1. ***Fan Question*** Changing Mockingjay…
2. ***Fan Question*** Straight to the Point
3. ***Fan Question*** What Hunger Games book would you split into two movies?
4. ***Fan Question*** If Katniss were a real person and you could ask her one question…
5. ***Fan Question*** 5…4…3…2…1

Tags: catching fire film, fan questions, gale hawthorne, Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss Everdeen, mockingjay, Peeta Mellark, plutarch heavensbee, suzanne collins, the hunger games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Category: Catching Fire, Fan Questions, Movie, News, The Books