While it has been nearly seven years since audiences saw the last Hunger Games film, they will soon be able to see a new prequel film in the franchise.
In Suzanne Collins’ novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, set in Panem 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games, we learn more about the antagonist Coriolanus Snow’s childhood and formative years.
More information has been released by the film’s director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson, who have promised a fresh take on the fictional nation of Panem.
To depict a different side of Panem at a different point in its history has been extremely fascinating,” Jacobson stated in an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair on the impending prequel. “From a stylistic point of view, it’s very different; the design, the character, the point of view are all very different.”
Lawrence continued, “We also get to remake District 12, remake all of the Capitol, and a brand-new arena,” all of which are being designed by production designer Uli Hanisch to give viewers a “new version” of Panem.
As Lawrence continued, “Suzanne has done such a great job going back into the mythology and telling a story about the creation of the world.” Briefly, you learn about Katniss’s past. A lot of the backstory of Snow, the Games, and the music, including the origins of classics like “The Hanging Tree,” will be revealed.
Date Of Publication For The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes
Last year at CinemaCon, Lionsgate announced that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes would have its theatrical release on November 17, 2023.
This coincides with the November releases of the last three Hunger Games films (Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Mockingjay Part 2), all of which took place between 2013 and 2015.
The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes Plot
A young Coriolanus Snow, years before he would become the dictatorial President of Panem, is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from prominence in a post-war Capitol. So reads the official synopsis for Songbirds & Snakes.
Young Snow is worried when he is tasked with guiding Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from poor District 12, as the tenth annual Hunger Games approach. But after Lucy Gray’s defiant singing during the reaping ceremony captures the attention of all of Panem, Snow thinks he has a chance to turn the tables in their favor.
Ultimately, in Snow and Lucy’s race against time to survive, it will become clear who is a songbird and who is a serpent when they unite their instincts for showmanship and newfound political knowledge. Before the release of the highly anticipated film, producer Nina Jacobson gave fans a sneak peek at what they may expect by saying,
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“This is the 10th Hunger Games as compared to Catching Fire’s 75th.I believe it’s a lot of fun to watch how the Hunger Games started out before they were as glamorous as they are now. Something we haven’t really done before has a Capitol character provide a point of view that spans a significant portion of the story.
The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes Cast
Tom Blythe, who starred in The Gilded Age, plays Coriolanus Snow, an 18-year-old characterized by director Francis Lawrence as “a survivor, a loyal friend, a cutthroat, a kid quick to fall in love, and a young man ambitious to the core.”
Lawrence praised Blythe’s turn as the future President of Panem, saying, “Tom’s take on the character showed us all the complex ambiguities of this young man as he transforms into the tyrant he would become.”
The West Side Story and Shazam! After singing defiantly during the reaping ceremony, Rachel Zegler’s character, Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12, plays a pivotal role in the events.
The first time I saw Rachel Zegler was in West Side Story, and I knew then that I was watching a star who would command the screen for a generation, just like everyone else, so I guess I’m not alone in that,” Lawrence added.
“Lucy Gray is a fantastic role for her: the character is strong, free-spirited, and defiant, but she is also tender, sensitive, and caring. Rachel will make a lasting impression in this role.
Josh Andrés Rivera, who co-starred with Zegler in West Side Story and happens to be her boyfriend in real life, has been cast as Sejanus Plinth, a mentor and close friend of Snows from District Two.
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Viola Davis has been cast as Dr. Voluminia Gaul, Head Gamemaker, adding to the film’s growing list of A-listers. Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) and Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) both played the role of Head Gamemaker in the film adaptations. Dr. Gaul “is as cruel as she is creative and as fearsome as she is formidable,” says Lawrence.
The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes Trailer
The inscription states, “You’re invited to return to the game in 2023.” “Everyone will find out who the songbirds are… and who the snakes are.”
Final Words
Although the women are all Baird cousins, their offspring might have taken the last name of either of their fathers. Lucy’s whereabouts after the end of Ballad is unknown, however, it’s likely that she made it and is now back in District 12.