The annual Hunger Games is back! But this time, it’s about to tell a different story—away from the original tale of Katniss. Instead, it will follow Coriolanus in the new The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie. As the film has dropped its new preview, here’s everything you need to know about the cast and trailer breakdown.
What is The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie about?
Based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a spin-off and a prequel to the original The Hunger Games trilogy. The film was adapted by the studio company Lionsgate and is set in the universe of The Hunger Games—64 years before it happened.
The film introduces the young Coriolanus Snow, who becomes the authoritarian president of Panem in the original trilogy. The Capitol is severely damaged after a long, costly war with the Districts. It gradually tries to get back on its feet after experiencing victory, but the Snow family, once known for being powerful and wealthy, has fallen on hard times.
Coriolanus is the last hope of his falling family, so he’s tasked to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the District 12 female tribute, for the 10th Hunger Games. This tournament will pave the way for him to become the tyrannical leader many have known him before.
All the Confirmed Cast
Like the first trilogy, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie features a stellar cast, led by Rachel Zegler as Lucy and Tom Blyth as Coriolanus. Hunter Schafer will join them as Tigris Snow, Coriolanus’ cousin; Josh Andrés Rivera as Sejanus Plinth, another mentor and Coriolanus’ close friend; and Jason Schwartzman as Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman, the 10th Hunger Games host.
For other cast members, you can check the list below:
- Peter Dinklage as Casca Highbottom
- Viola Davis as Volumnia Gaul
- Fionnula Flanagan as Grandma’am
- Zoe Renee as Lysistrata Vickers
- Mackenzie Lansing as Coral
- Laurel Marsden as Mayfair Lipp
- Burn Gorman as Commander Hoff
Trailer Breakdown of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie
The trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes begins with a familiar song. After being sung by Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) in Mockingjay Part 1, Zegler now takes her version, revealing the melody originated from her and passed down through generations in District 12.
The tributes are then seen arriving at the train station before the games begin. Here, Coriolanus welcomes Lucy with a white rose, known for being his favorite flower in the original franchise. Coriolanus is forced to take on Peacekeeper duties and later finds himself in District 12, which may give fans major nostalgia as he sets foot on the same meadows and roads in the original movie.
From there, the preview introduces the villains who will torment Coriolanus in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie: Casca, the school dean and Hunger Games’ unintentional creator, and Volumnia, the head game maker. The clip also shows the latter’s weapon of choice: colorful snake mutations.
But if there’s one most notable in the preview, it’s hearing the original Coriolanus actor, Donald Sutherland, saying, “It’s the things we love most that destroy us.” It was the same thing he told Katniss in Mockingjay Part 2. But this time, it captures the growing relationship between Coriolanus and Lucy.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie will hit the theaters on November 17.
For more content, stay with us here at Spiel Times. Make sure you subscribe to our push notifications and never miss an update. You can also follow us on Spiel Anime, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Until next time!