Featured Image Credit: Starz Entertainment/MrBeast/Youtube
Topics: Social Media, Celebrity, Entertainment, TV And Film
Lucy Devine
Topics: Social Media, Celebrity, Entertainment, TV And Film
MrBeast has announced plans to create a real-life 'Hunger Games', but people have been left pretty horrified over his suggested prize.
The 27-year-old YouTuber, known for vlogging elaborate stunts and viral challenges, is one of the top earners on the video-sharing platform, reportedly making $700 million a year (via CNBC).
He also has more than 500 million followers across social media, making him only of the most followed creators in the world.
The concept of making a fictional game a reality is something MrBeast - real name Jimmy Donaldson - is incredibly capable of.
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In 2021, he replicated the set of Netflix's Squid Game, a South Korean TV show where contestants are made to compete in a series of childish games to secure a huge cash prize, for his video titled '$456,000 Squid Game in Real Life!'.
In his next venture, MrBeast is developing the concept for an 'IRL Hunger Games'.
Speaking to TODAY, he said: “So obviously, we won’t kill people. I’ve been sitting on this idea where if you potentially grabbed 26 random people, put them on an island, and then not use real weapons, maybe like laser tag, or something like that, and the last remaining one wins $1 million, to recreate the Hunger Games in real life."
Talking about his experience recreating iconic TV shows and films, he continued: “I think that would absolutely crush, because we recreated Squid Game, we also rebuilt Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, and we gave away golden tickets, and people loved it.
"So, a lot of the time we bring these fictional ideas to life, and people love seeing it.”
Donaldson said there would be a $1 million prize at the end, although not everyone was enthusiastic about the idea.
One person wrote on social media: "And we as a civilization are ok with the dystopian book series becoming real life? Like fr?"
Another said: "This man continues to misunderstand the message of this kind of movie or show. What's next? Saw-like escape scenarios?"
A third commented: "This is not a good idea wtf."
The Hunger Games franchise is set in a dystopian future, specifically in a place called Panem, where, as punishment for a rebellion, the 12 districts are forced to participate in the annual Hunger Games.
Each year, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen to fight to the death, with only one survivor remaining.
Tyla has reached out to Donaldson's rep for comment.