'The Hunger Games' play to debut in London in 2024

Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The Hunger Games play will make its debut in London in 2024.

The stage adaptation is based on the Suzanne Collins book series, which was previously adapted as a film franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence.

Conor McPherson (Girl from the North Country) will write the adaptation, with Matthew Dunster to direct. The production will open on London's West End next fall.

The play is based on The Hunger Games, the first book in Collins' series. The story introduces Katniss Everdeen, a teenager living in a dystopian world where young people are selected as tributes to fight to the death in a televised battle royale.

"I'm very excited to be collaborating with the amazing team of Conor McPherson and Matthew Dunster as they bring their dynamic and innovative interpretation of The Hunger Games to the London stage," Collins said in a statement.

McPherson said Collins giving her blessing for the play was "humbling and inspiring."

"She has created a classic story which continues to resonate now more than ever," he added. "In a world where the truth itself seems increasingly up for grabs, The Hunger Games beautifully expresses values of resilience, self-reliance and independent moral inquiry for younger people especially."

In other Hunger Games news, Lionsgate is developing a big-screen adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, a prequel to The Hunger Games written by Collins. The movie stars Tom Blythe and Rachel Zegler and opens in theaters Nov. 17.