It’s 2023 and we’ve just had a new Hunger Games trailer drop. Wait, WHAT? Yes, grab your Mockingjay pin, whip out those Katniss braids, and prepare to fill that Peeta-shaped hole in your heart, ‘cos we’ve just copped our first trailer for The Hunger Games prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
And um, have I got the hots for motherfucking President Snow??? Whatever, it’s not the weirdest shit I’m into.
The film, based on the book of the same name, will follow President Snow as a hot, young bloke with excellent hair and a wonderfully chiselled jaw. The story is set to take place at the 10th Hunger Games, 64 years before ol’ Katniss came onto the scene.
Because it’s a prequel, our main characters Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and Gale (ugh) probs won’t be returning. But look, some new characters to project onto!
Ahead, everything we know about The Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Is There A Trailer For The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
The highly anticipated trailer for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has finally dropped.
And uhhh, I never thought I’d be frothing President Snow, but here we are.
Take a peek below:
What is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes about?
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows the youth of our fave evil white-haired megalomaniac President Coriolanus Snow (played by Donald Sutherland in the OG films).
But this time, he’s an absolute dream boat. The audacity to make me fall in love with a VILLAIN! My psychologist is gonna have a field day with this.
The trailer begins with Viola Davis (an excellent start), who plays the head gamemaker, Volumnia Gaul.
But this bloke called Casca Highbottom (played by Peter Dinklage!!!) warns there’s been a change in the games this year. Ah, the perfect set up.
Of course, The Hunger Games prequel will centre around the 10th Hunger Games, well before Katniss’ participation in the 74th Games.
The new film follows a young Coriolanus Snow (who of course, ends up becoming a crazed maniac with a penchant for killing kids) as he mentors a tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler).
It hints at a bit of good ol’ romance between the two, with the final line hinting at perhaps Snow’s villain origin story: “It’s the things we love the most that destroy us”.
The book unpacks some of the ~lore~ of the Hunger Games world which is especially juicy if you’re a massive worldbuilding nerd like me.
An official film synopsis has been released, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
It says “in this return to The Hunger Games, years before he would become the President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow sees a chance for a change in fortunes when he’s chosen to mentor a young tribute from District 12.”
I’m hooked, lined and sinkered.
Who’ll star in the Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
Playing the lead role is West Side Story star Rachel Zegler. She’ll star opposite The Gilded Age star Tom Blythe, who of course plays one of the most important characters from the OG series, President Snow.
In good news for those who froth the enemies-to-lovers trope, these two will be this generation’s Katness and Peeta (but not you Gale, never you).
Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird and Tom Blyth as in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Credit: Murray Close / Roadshow.
They’ll be joined by Euphoria star Hunter Schafer who will play Tigris Snow, “Coriolanus’s cousin and confidante, who advises him in everything – from his role as mentor to the core of his moral compass,” per Deadline.
Esteemed actress Viola Davis will also star as the Head Gamemaker, Volumnia Gaul, who is in charge of the games that year.
She’ll be joined by Game of Thrones star, Peter Dinklage, who will play Casa Highbottom, Dean of the Academy and one of the architects of the games.
Josh Andrés Rivera will play Sejanus Plinth, a mate of ol’ Snow and the mentor of a tribute from District 2.
Jason Schwartzman will also star as the first ever talk show host for the games, Lucky Flickerman, the ancestor to Caesar Flickerman (boooo!!!).
Who is making The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
In great news for fans of the OG film series, Francis Lawrence will be directing the prequel. He directed Catching Fire and Mockingjay parts one and two.
Series’ author Suzanne Collins, as well as Michael Arndt (who won an Oscar for Little Miss Sunshine) and Michael Lesslie (Assassin’s Creed), will write the film according to Deadline.
Arndt was part of the writing team for Catching Fire which we all know is the best Hunger Games film. So I have high hopes.
When is the Hunger Games prequel coming out?
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be in cinemas on November 16 2023.
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Well, colour me intrigued.
Looks like we won’t have to wait too long before diving back into the world of The Hunger Games. We’ll keep you posted when more details drop. Surely we can get another Lorde single for the soundtrack too? Let’s really live our 2014 fantasy.
