Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins to Release New Hunger Games Book

Author Suzanne Collins is set to expand the world of The Hunger Games with a new addition to the popular dystopian series. Scholastic announced on Thursday that Collins’ fifth book, Sunrise on the Reaping, will be released on March 18, 2025. Lionsgate has already secured the film rights, with plans for a movie adaptation to hit theaters on November 20, 2026.

The new novel is set 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and explores themes of misinformation and governmental control. “I was inspired by David Hume’s concept of implicit submission and the ease with which the many are governed by the few,” Collins stated. “This story gave me the opportunity to dive deeper into propaganda and the power held by those who control the narrative. The question, ‘Real or not real?’ feels more relevant than ever.”

About Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins, a highly successful American author, first gained recognition with Gregor the Overlander (2003), the opening book in The Underland Chronicles. In 2008, she achieved worldwide fame with the publication of The Hunger Games, the first in a trilogy that became a cultural phenomenon. The series was later adapted into a blockbuster film franchise, starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, and expanded with the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Early Life

Born on August 10, 1962, in Hartford, Connecticut, Suzanne Collins is the youngest of four children. As the daughter of Air Force officer Michael J. Collins, Suzanne moved frequently throughout her childhood, living in places like New York City and Brussels. Her father, a history professor and Vietnam veteran, fostered her deep understanding of war and conflict, often taking the family to historical battlefields and monuments.

Collins’ early exposure to history and her father’s experiences significantly influenced her writing. She once remarked, “He felt a great responsibility to educate us about war, and it left a lasting impact on me.” After graduating from the Alabama School of Fine Arts in 1980, Collins earned a double major in theater and telecommunications from Indiana University in 1985. She then pursued a master’s degree in dramatic writing from New York University.

Television Writing

Before becoming a celebrated novelist, Collins built a career in television, writing for popular children’s shows such as Clarissa Explains It All and Little Bear. Her work caught the attention of James Proimos, the creator of Generation O!, who hired her as the head writer and encouraged her to pursue writing novels.

Literary Career: From The Underland Chronicles to The Hunger Games

In 2003, Collins published her first novel, Gregor the Overlander, which launched her five-part Underland Chronicles series. The series, centered on a boy who discovers a hidden world beneath New York City, earned critical acclaim and secured a spot on the New York Times best seller list.

Collins’ most significant breakthrough came with The Hunger Games trilogy, a dystopian tale that captivated readers worldwide. With its complex themes of survival, power, and resistance, the series became a global sensation and cemented Collins’ reputation as one of the most influential authors of the 21st century. The eagerly awaited release of Sunrise on the Reaping promises to continue her legacy of thought-provoking storytelling.

The Hunger Games Trilogy and Movies

While Suzanne Collins had already gained recognition with The Underland Chronicles, it was her next series that propelled her to international fame. As Collins later recounted, the inspiration for The Hunger Games came one night while she was channel-surfing. Struck by the blurred line between reality television and war coverage, particularly of the Iraq war, she reflected, “We have so much programming coming at us all the time. Is it too much? Are we becoming desensitized to the entire experience? … I can’t believe a certain amount of that isn’t happening.”

Set in the dystopian nation of Panem, formerly North America, The Hunger Games follows Katniss Everdeen, a rebellious heroine forced to compete in a brutal, televised fight to the death. For Collins, the themes of the series — war, survival, and the consequences of violence — were deeply personal, echoing the discussions she had with her father, a Vietnam War veteran. She explained, “If we introduce kids to these ideas earlier, we could get a dialogue about war going earlier and possibly it would lead to more solutions. … I just feel it isn’t discussed, not the way it should be.”

The first book, The Hunger Games, was released in 2008, followed by Catching Fire in 2009 and Mockingjay in 2010. The trilogy became a global phenomenon, selling over 100 million copies worldwide.

In 2012, the film adaptation of The Hunger Games, with a screenplay by Collins, debuted to critical and commercial success. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, alongside Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, the film earned nearly $700 million globally. This success paved the way for the release of Catching Fire and the two-part adaptation of Mockingjay in the years that followed.

Prequel: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

In May 2020, Collins expanded the world of Panem with the release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel exploring the early life of Coriolanus Snow, the future tyrant of Panem. The novel delves into Snow’s rise to power and the transformation of the Hunger Games from a minor spectacle to a massive, manipulative event.

The prequel was adapted into a film in 2023, starring Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, and Peter Dinklage, continuing the legacy of the franchise.

Other Books: Charlie McButton and Year of the Jungle

Prior to The Hunger Games series, Collins authored children’s books, including When Charlie McButton Lost Power (2007) and its sequel When Charlie McButton Gained Power (2009). In 2013, she published Year of the Jungle, an autobiographical picture book about a young girl coping with the absence of her father, who has gone to war.

Personal Life

Collins married Charles “Cap” Pryor in 1992, and the couple had two children, Charlie and Isabel. While Collins and Pryor reportedly divorced in 2015, the details of their split remain private.

Suzanne Collins’ Net Worth

As of May 2024, Collins’ net worth is estimated at approximately $90 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This financial success reflects her remarkable impact on the literary world and the lasting popularity of her work.