MrBeast Teases Real-Life ‘Hunger Games’ — How Close Will He Get to the Real Thing?

After turning massive stories like Squid Game and Willy Wonka into viral real-life challenges, YouTube giant MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has his sights set on The Hunger Games. But before fans get too nervous, he made one thing clear: “We won’t kill people.”

In a recent interview with The Today Show, MrBeast shared that he’s been toying with the idea of creating a massive Hunger Games-style competition.

The challenge would feature 26 contestants dropped onto an island, but instead of deadly weapons, the players would be using something safer like laser tag gear.

“I’ve been sitting on this idea where it’d be fun to grab potentially 26 random people, put them on an island and then not use real weapons—maybe like laser tag or something like that,” he said.

MrBeast is known for going all-in when it comes to turning pop culture into large-scale YouTube spectacles. His Squid Game recreation in 2021 racked up hundreds of millions of views.

That video featured exact set replicas, 456 players, and a whopping $456,000 grand prize. Though the video was a major success online, it eventually led to legal problems. Some contestants from a similar project, his Amazon Prime show Beast Games, later sued his company, saying they were mistreated on set.

One former participant, identified as “Contestant 5,” said: “I wanted to join because I was a fan of MrBeast and his videos made me smile during the COVID-19 pandemic. I expected to be challenged, but I didn’t think I would be treated like nothing less than nothing.”

The lawsuit claimed that some contestants were hurt, physically and emotionally, during filming. Some were allegedly denied food, medical care, and basic hygiene while competing. MrBeast’s team hasn’t commented on the suit.

MrBeast explained that his team often uses stories people already love to create unforgettable experiences. “We recreated Squid Game. We also rebuilt Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, and I have a chocolate company, you know? We gave away golden tickets, brought people out. People love it,” he said. “A lot of times, we just bring these fictional ideas to life and people love seeing it.”

His version of Willy Wonka’s factory came complete with candy rivers, edible walls, and even a chocolate waterfall. That challenge ended with one lucky fan winning their very own chocolate factory, although it’s unclear if anyone kept it long term. Around the same time, MrBeast launched Feastables, his own chocolate company, but even that faced heat.

In Hershey, Pennsylvania, home of the famous Hershey’s brand, locals weren’t thrilled when MrBeast’s trucks and logos started popping up around town. Some saw it as a direct challenge to the longtime chocolate leader.

As for The Hunger Games, MrBeast’s idea couldn’t be timed better. Suzanne Collins just released a new prequel novel titled Sunrise on the Reaping, and Lionsgate has already confirmed a movie is in the works. That story goes back to the early days of the games, long before Katniss Everdeen ever picked up a bow.

MrBeast might not follow the books or movies too closely, but fans know he’s more focused on creating viral moments than exact replicas. Whether it’s chocolate rivers, giant games of tag, or life-sized survival challenges, he has a way of making fantasy feel real, without the deadly consequences.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!