Fans are gearing up for the Hunger Games prequel movie, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which is expected to release in November 2023. The film will be set about 60 years before the events of Katniss' Hunger Games and will follow a young President Coriolanus Snow, as he mentors for his first Games.
This will fill in several details for fans of the original movie series, such as how the Games came to be and how President Snow ended up the despicable character everyone is familiar with. But, of course, if movie fans want more information about what happened to the Hunger Games characters after Snow's assassination, they would have to turn to the books. The likes of Haymitch, Gale, Plutarch, and even Peetah and Katniss, had far more happen to them at the end of their story than the movies had time to include.
Peeta's Family Died In The Hunger Games Books When District 12 Was Bombed
The movies briefly reveal that Peeta was abused by his mother, but the books had much more to say about the Mellark family. Peeta's father, for example, was described as a kindly man who had once been in love with Katniss' mother.
Unfortunately, when District 12 was bombed, Peeta's parents and two brothers were killed. When Peeta returned to the remains of the District after the events of Snow's execution, he helped excavate and properly bury the bodies of all the citizens.
Haymitch Abernathy Ended Up Raising Geese At The End Of The Hunger Games Books
After Katniss assassinated President Coin, Haymitch stayed in the Capitol to play an unknown part in Katniss' trial (which took several days, if not weeks, to complete). Once her release was finally secured, he went back with her to District 12.
Katniss states that Haymitch played a part in rebuilding the community, but he never gave up his beloved white liquor. Additionally, he found some meaning in his life by raising geese.
Gale Hawthorne Ended Up In District 2 At The End Of The Hunger Games
As far as the books reveal, Katniss and Gale, a favorite relationship in The Hunger Games, never saw each other again after their emotional conversation while preparing for Snow's execution. Katniss is told that Gale got a "fancy" job in District 2, rebuilding the country's damaged military.
Katniss found relief at this news, and she was surprised to realize that she had none of the longing she had once felt for their friendship. Instead, she imagined he would quickly move on and find another girl to share secret kisses with.
Mrs. Everdeen Ends Up Running A Hospital At The End Of The Hunger Games In District 4
Throughout most of The Hunger Games, Katniss has conflicted feelings about her relationship with her mother. She resented her for shutting down after her father's death and saw her more as a child she had to care for.
By Mockingjay, Katniss had worked her way around many of these feelings. Still, it was difficult for the mother and daughter to know how to react together to Prim's death. Mrs. Everdeen went to District 4 to develop a new hospital. After some time, Katniss called, and the two cried together on the phone in a rare moment of vulnerability. This was an emotional sign that Katniss had finally let down her guard and could build a new relationship with her mother.
Annie Cresta Returned To District 4 At The End Of The Hunger Games Books And Had A Son
Finnick and Annie's wedding had been one of the few joyful moments in Katniss' life during the events of Mockingjay. Despite Finnick's death, this joy seemed to stretch long after the war's end.
As one of the remaining Victors of the games, Annie was brought to the Capitol for Snow's execution, where she voted against reinstating the Hunger Games. Sometime after Katniss and Peeta returned to District 12, they received a letter from Annie, who explained that she would return to her home in District 4. She also sent a picture of her newborn son. This small joy represented the hope that beautiful things could still come to those damaged by the Games.
Plutarch Heavensbee Became The Secretary Of Communications At The End Of The Hunger Games Books
Plutarch Heavensbee is one of the most changed characters from book to movie. In the latter, he was portrayed as a calm, intelligent revolutionary. In the book, however, he was just as clueless as many of the other Capitol characters and a major part of the brutality that sums up The Hunger Games.
Katniss never learned if Plutarch had been behind the bombs that killed her sister, but it was revealed that the old Game Maker played a significant role in her release. He personally took Katniss back to District 12, where he cheerfully told her that he had been appointed Secretary of Communications and asked her if she wanted to participate in a singing competition he wanted to produce to replace the Hunger Games.
Effie Trinket Was A Captive Of District 13 At The End Of The Hunger Games
While the Mockingjay movie had Effie go to District 13 to help Katniss make war propos, this never happened in the books. Instead, the last time Katniss had seen her escort before Snow's execution was the day before the Quarter Quell.
Katniss never asked what had happened to Effie during this time, but she could tell by the woman's new vacant expression that she had been treated very poorly by the Capitol after the arena fell. Plutarch kept Coin from executing Effie, and it is assumed that after Coin's death, Plutarch kept Effie under his wing— perhaps she helped with the singing competition.
Johanna Mason Possibly Went Back To District 7 At The End Of The Hunger Games
Another book moment that wasn't adapted to the Hunger Games movies is the friendship that developed between Katniss and Johanna Mason in District 13. The two bonded while recovering from their injuries in the hospital over their shared hate of everything, and Katniss even made Johanna a gift of bound pine needles to remind her of home.
Both were eager to get to the Capitol and assassinate President Snow, so they helped each other make the necessary preparations to officially join the District 13 military. Due to a fear of water stemming from her torture in the Capitol, Johanna could not pass the final test. However, she later appeared in the Capitol to vote for the continuation of the Hunger Games. It is assumed that she went back to District 7, which she dearly missed.
Peeta Mellark Returned To District 12 At The End Of The Hunger Games Books And Reunited With Katniss
After Prim's death, Katniss learned that Peeta had made it to the President's mansion when the bombs went off and was also greatly injured. But, due to her own recovery and grief over her sister, Katniss did not see Peeta until immediately after she executed Coin, when he stopped her from killing herself.
Months later, Peeta returned to District 12 to find a greatly neglected Katniss, unwashed with matted hair. Slowly, he helped her recover from her depression, and the two kindled a friendship again. He still had to work through his fear of her, but eventually, they could touch and finally kiss without Peeta losing himself to his trauma.
Katniss Everdeen Returned To District 12 At The End Of The Hunger Games Books
A good deal of the end of Katniss' story was included in The Hunger Games, aside from a few important details from book canon. First, after Katniss executed Coin, she was locked up in her room for so long that Katniss lost track of time. Alone and unsure of her fate, she began to deal with some of her grief and let go of the drive for survival that had plagued her for so long. For the first time since she was a child, she even began to sing.
Finally, she was released and sent back to District 12, where she lived for a time with only an older woman from her District. She neglected to care for herself until Peeta arrived, bringing her out of her depression. It was a slow path to healing, but eventually, she, Peeta, and the rest of their District moved on to brighter days.