Comic-Con: Are there more 'Hunger Games' movies on the way?

When actor Josh Hutcherson appeared on the talk show 'Conan' at Comic-Con, it certainly looked like he let something slip while talking about the possibility of a 'Games' sequel or prequel. Where would the franchise go from here?

Will there be more movies set in the “Hunger Games” universe?

Talk show host Conan O’Brien recently broadcast an episode of his show from Comic-Con in San Diego and his guests for his July 9 episode included “Games” actors Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth. The next “Hunger Games” movie, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2,” is set to be released this November. 

O’Brien inquired about other possible “Games” movies during the show. “This is the last film in the franchise and Lionsgate obviously must be thinking, there’s got to be some way we can keep this going,” he said when speaking with Lawrence, who plays “Games” protagonist Katniss Everdeen. “The books are over, the story’s over, there’s been talk there’s going to be a sequel or a prequel. Where are you on that?” 

“There is,” Hutcherson told O’Brien. Lawrence turned around and shot him what certainly looks like a reproving glance. “I’m sorry,” Hutcherson quickly said. “No, I can’t say that. I’m sorry. We’ll see what happens.”

“That’s the worst lying I’ve ever seen,” O’Brien said.

The next film, “Mockingjay – Part 2,” finishes out the book series written by Suzanne Collins. However, there seemed to be no source material for another film set in the “Harry Potter” universe until recently, when “Potter” author J.K. Rowling announced she herself would be writing the screenplay for a movie based on “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” a slim book by Rowling about magical creatures in the "Potter" universe. The movie “Fantastic” will center on the book’s fictional author, Newt Scamander, and the first "Fantastic" film is set to be released in 2016. The "Games" universe does seem to offer opportunities for more stories, either focusing on the next generation after Katniss and her friends or looking back at what led to the dystopian world in which they live.

Few if any properties seem truly over in Hollywood now. After all, next year, the third new Spider-Man in 14 years will hit the big screen. Lawrence herself referred to the reboot-happy nature of the movie community right now in her appearance on “Conan.” “I know that there’s going to be a reboot [of ‘The Hunger Games’] with younger, hotter people in our lifetime,” she said. “Like, within 10 years.”