Elizabeth Banks said she attempted to obtain the film rights to both The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner book series [1, 2].
The revelation highlights the early industry competition to adapt the dystopian young adult novels that defined a decade of cinema. Banks' efforts to secure these properties illustrate her long-term ambition as a producer before the franchises became global phenomena.
Banks said these details during an appearance on the "Actors on Actors" series, which aired on CNN and streamed on Variety's platform on June 11, 2026 [1, 2]. She spoke with former co-star Josh Hutcherson, marking a reunion for the two actors after nine years [1].
During the conversation, the pair discussed the lasting impact of The Hunger Games franchise. Banks said her interest in the source material and her pursuit of the rights for the books [1]. While the interview focused heavily on the legacy of The Hunger Games, Banks said her attempts to acquire the rights for The Maze Runner as well [1].
Variety's coverage of the interview emphasized the connection between the two actors and the franchise's history, though it did not mention the specific pursuit of The Maze Runner rights [2]. This discrepancy exists between the video broadcast and the written feature accompanying the series.
Banks and Hutcherson used the platform to reflect on the professional growth they experienced while working on the series. The discussion touched upon the transition from the initial filming of the books to the broader cultural influence of the stories [1].
“Elizabeth Banks said she attempted to obtain the film rights to both The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner book series.”
This disclosure provides insight into the speculative nature of the film industry during the peak of the dystopian YA trend. By attempting to secure multiple high-profile properties simultaneously, Banks was positioning herself as a key architect of the genre's cinematic expansion, regardless of whether those specific acquisitions were successful.
