‘The Boys’ and ‘Star Wars’ Have More in Common Than Usual After Eagle-Eyed Fans Callback to ‘The Hunger Games’ Era
It is quite interesting how pop culture can join two worlds that may seem to have no connection at all. Surprisingly, the two most popular shows on different platforms, The Acolyte and The Boys, have a connection that could be traced back to the days of The Hunger Games franchise.
The new TV series, The Acolyte, is part of the expanded Star Wars franchise, whereas The Boys franchise is a grittier and more satirical take on the superhero genre. Although the two shows don’t seem to have any connection at all, they involve actors with a common history, like Amandla Stenberg and Jack Quaid.
Amandla Stenberg and Jack Quaid’s The Hunger Games Connection
Years before they starred for the dark side of the Force in Star Wars and the dark take on superheroes, Amandla Stenberg and Jack Quaid appeared in a completely different world in the 2012 release The Hunger Games. This link has again triggered a sense of nostalgia among fans who have been following the careers of the actors since their early days in the dystopian world of Panem.
Amandla Stenberg played the role of Rue in The Hunger Games. Her character was a young District 11 tribute chosen to fight along with the protagonist of the movie, Katniss Everdeen, portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence.
In the movie, Rue was killed by Marvel, who was portrayed by none other than Jack Quaid. This was one of the major plot elements in the story, and this connection has led fans and netizens to take to social media to express this trivia about The Boys and Star Wars actors.
Years later, Quaid and Stenberg are in different roles altogether. The final days of the High Republic Era are depicted in the new Star Wars series The Acolyte, where Stenberg plays the dual roles of Mae and Osha. On the other hand, Quaid plays Hughie Campbell in the disruptive world of The Boys.
Even though their career paths are vastly different, Stenberg and Quaid have not forgotten this connection. During the E! News studio at Comic Con, Stenberg surprised Quaid, who was promoting Star Trek: Lower Decks, with a video message where she joked about him killing her in The Hunger Games.
Oh Jack, it’s been so many years. And it’s taken me time to recover — sometimes I still get a jabbing pain through my abdomen, and I’m reminded of the time that you murdered me. But we all have our faults. And I forgive you.
Quaid, who was surprised by her message, quickly replied, saying,
Yes! Yes! Thank you Amandla. Oh my god, people were spitting on me in the streets for years.
However, there are some other thematic similarities between The Boys and Star Wars besides the mentioned connection. They are both preoccupied with issues of power, its cultural decline, corruption, and resistance against oppressors. The Boys focuses on the dark reality and complexities of superheroes, and Star Wars explores the temptations of the Dark Side of the Force.
The Upcoming Hunger Games Film and Its Premise
As fans enjoy the nostalgic connection between The Boys and Star Wars through The Hunger Games, Lionsgate has announced plans for a new Hunger Games prequel film. The title of the upcoming project will be Sunrise on the Reaping and it is set to release in 2026.
Adapted from the upcoming novel by Suzanne Collins, the film will be set in the world of Panem, 24 years before the plot of the original trilogy and 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The movie will be centered around the 50th Hunger Games, aka the Second Quarter Quell, in which the legendary Haymitch Abernathy, played by Woody Harrelson competed.
According to a press release by Lionsgate, chairman of the studio’s motion picture group, Adam Fogelson talked about the premise of the movie and Suzanne Collins’ importance for the movie. He said,
We couldn’t be more fortunate than to be guided and trusted by a collaborator whose talent and imagination are so consistently brilliant. The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later.
According to Variety, Francis Lawrence, who directed the last three Hunger Games films, is in discussions to return as the director. Viewers can expect a continuation of the franchise’s rich storytelling.
The Boys and The Acolyte are streaming on Prime Video and Disney+ respectively.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be released on November 20, 2026.
