It’s a common observation that wealthy individuals sometimes miss the underlying message of certain works. Numerous stories across different media explore how the powerful exploit the less fortunate for their own amusement. Ironically, some affluent individuals then choose to recreate these very narratives. Jimmy Donaldson, widely recognized as MrBeast, is known for his YouTube content featuring elaborate competitions and challenges with substantial cash prizes. He previously produced a real-life version of Squid Game, the massively popular Netflix series. This show’s central theme critiques the control the wealthy exert over those struggling financially. Now, it seems Donaldson is considering a similar project based on The Hunger Games, a dystopian series depicting a society where the elite in the Capitol treat ordinary citizens as expendable, forcing them to fight each other for entertainment.
During an interview on The Today Show, Donaldson appeared surprised when asked about his plans for a Hunger Games-inspired recreation. He clarified that the concept wouldn’t involve a literal fight to the death. Instead, the idea is to place “potentially 26 random people” on an island where they would use a laser tag-like system to eliminate each other, with the ultimate survivor receiving a million-dollar reward.
“I think that would absolutely crush because yes, we recreated Squid Game, but we also rebuilt Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory,” Donaldson said on The Today Show. “I have a chocolate company, and we gave golden tickets and brought people out, and people loved it. A lot of times, we just bring these fictional ideas to life, and people love seeing it.”
Donaldson is correct that many people enjoy experiencing real-world versions of their favorite fictional universes. The popularity of theme parks and escape rooms based on popular franchises highlights this. No doubt his team will find plenty of enthusiastic “tributes.” Yet, even if not literally life-threatening, recreating stories like these can feel like exploiting the needs of individuals for profit and entertainment. While MrBeast has used his platform for many positive contributions, adapting The Hunger Games and Squid Game into real-world game shows might make the participants seem like characters that embody the very sadistic game makers that those stories are meant to critique.