The Hunger Games prequel film: 'I will not be involved' says Jennifer Lawrence

Lionsgate, the company behind the popular Hunger Games films, is not yet ready to let go of the franchise. They intend to develop prequels or spinoffs...but it will have to be without lead star Jennifer Lawrence. The actress recently declared that she would not star in any Hunger Games prequel films.

Lawrence recently completed a four-movie stint as Katniss Everdeen, and said she wouldn't be interested in potential follow-ups to the franchise. "I wouldn't be involved," she told Variety. "I think it's too soon. They've got to let the body get cold, in my opinion." The star last portrayed Katniss in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, which was released on 16 November.

Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns stated that The Hunger Games franchise may "live on and on and on" through prequels, sequels or reboots, reports UPI. "The one thing that kids say they missed [from the early Hunger Games films] was there were no arena [fights]," he said at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. "If we went backwards, there obviously would be arenas."

It looks like Hunger Games fans can expect an exciting announcement soon. Lawrence, meanwhile is looking forward to her next film with Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle director David O Russell. Titled Joy, the film also stars Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro and opens in cinemas on 31 December, 2015.