Hunger Games’ president Snow is getting a prequel and fans are pretty mad

Ever since Suzanne Collins gave us Katniss Everdeen (and really, by extension, Jennifer Lawrence), we’ve been aching for another chapter in the story. Our dreams came true last summer when Scholastic confirmed that a prequel series—set 64 years before The Hunger Games took place—was in the works. Except maybe it was really a nightmare, at least for some fans.On January 21, Collins and co revealed that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes revolves around the one and only President Snow, and the Internet wasn’t having any of it. Snow, if you’ll recall, is the tyrannical leader who tried to eliminate Katniss throughout the three Hunger Games novels. In the film he was played by Donald Sutherland, and to say that the character was a villain would be an understatement. He was basically the epitome of white male privilege, fictionalized into its worst possible form.From the sounds of things Snow is supposed to be a much more likeable guy in his younger form, a “teenager born to privilege but searching for something more, a far cry from the man we know he will become. Here he’s friendly. He’s charming. And for now anyway, he’s a hero.”We wonder though—is that the kind of “hero” the world really needs right now? According to fans, not so much.

you’re telling me I waited YEARS for a new hunger games book just for it to be a president snow origin story pic.twitter.com/XxQxfiJnL9

— ? (@cassiansnesta) January 21, 2020

Of all the characters in The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins decided to humanize President Snow. Like we need another story about some tortured white boy. I hate it here. pic.twitter.com/iAxnMrBlJz

— merline - hiatus (@merlinereads) January 21, 2020

The comparisons to Donald Trump were inevitable, and they kind of ring true…

President Snow: pic.twitter.com/KOJ8ZCFDA3

— Donald J. Trump ᵖᵃʳᵒᵈʸ (@BiglyerPrez) January 21, 2020

And then there were all of the other characters that the prequel COULD have been about.

you mean .... to tell me .... I’ve waited years and preordered the hunger games sequel .... thinking it was abt mags ... for it to be a president snow origin story ... about a rich white boy becoming an authortarian who loves *checks notes* genocide? pic.twitter.com/JgAf9jJxkz

— Soraya Bouazzaoui (@warnersadam) January 21, 2020

Characters from the hunger games I’d rather read a prequel about over president snow:-Haymitch-Finnick-Cinna-Johanna-Beetee-Annie-Effie-Katniss’s Dad-Caesar Flickerman-President Coin-Tribute Boy From District 6-Buttercup-A turkey Gale shot

— k (@kristineholland) January 21, 2020

how can you write a Hunger Games prequel about young President Snow in the year of our lord 2020 when Finnick and Annie's early love story is RIGHT THERE

— Carly Lane-Perry (@carlylane) January 21, 2020

It's also kind of hard to forget all of the terrible things we know Snow does in the future, so going back and being asked to actually like him is a tall order.

Me when I discovered President Snow as a teenager is the main character of the new Hunger Games books. pic.twitter.com/PnLAJdZpvz

— Justina *Preorder Deathless Divide* Ireland (@justinaireland) January 21, 2020

Suzanne Collins really made us watch as president snow killed off some of our favourite characters in the hunger games series and expect me to now read the back story of a man who I'm glad is dead pic.twitter.com/7Ty2mxZhMJ

— kemi (@iamkemix) January 21, 2020

The reactions go on and on, as you would expect them to. Focusing on the big bad may seem trendy, and we’re sure Collins has a huge story in mind for him, but it also seems a bit… out of touch. At least in terms of what the fans were hoping for, and where pop culture in general seems to be heading.Still, we’ll have to wait until the May 19 release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to see how fans really feel, because let’s face it: those hungry for more Hunger Games are probably going to read it regardless. We know we will.[video_embed id='-1']Before you go: Dog gets frustrated while waiting in traffic and lets owner hear it[/video_embed]