Lionsgate finally released the official trailer for The Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, on Friday, April 28. The story is based on the book by Suzanne Collins, writer of The Hunger Games trilogy, which was also adapted into movies from 2012–2015.

The upcoming film’s story

Based on the trailer, the story was set in the 10th Annual Reaping Ceremony, which was set 64 years before the 74th Annual Hunger Games. Its creator, Dean Casca Highbottom (played by Peter Dinklage), was also featured, already portraying tyrannic behavior by seeing the tributes not as kids but as soldiers.

Just like in the Hunger Games book, the same mechanics of choosing two victors from each district were followed. Lucy Gray Baird (played by Rachel Zegler) of District 12 was chosen as one of the tributes to represent District 12, like Katniss Everdeen’s character.

Coriolanus Snow will also appear in this prequel story as a young mentor to Lucy, much to his dismay.

Lucy is shown to be a strong, fearless character by asking Coriolanus how she can win the games. She tries to charm the audience of Panem (like Katniss did), which tests Snow’s plan to keep his family’s name.

However, Snow’s personality will change, which will lead him to become the tyrannical president of Panem.

Film announcement 

A teaser for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was released on June 6, 2022. It only showed motion graphics of tree branches, a snake, and a bird frozen in snow before the two animals thawed from the ice and revealed themselves to be a gold-colored songbird and snake.

Movie details such as the release date and cast were also shown in the video’s details.

The colors of the logo are based on the book cover. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was released on May 19, 2020.

The film will star Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer as Tigris Snow, Josh Andrés Rivera, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis.

The Hunger Games trilogy

The Hunger Games is a dystopian young adult trilogy written by Suzanna Collins. The titles of the books are ‘The Hunger Games” (2008), ‘Catching Fire” (2009), and ‘Mockingjay’ (2010).

The trilogy’s setting is Panem, a North American nation with twelve districts. Every year, the Capitol starts a deadly game called the annual Hunger Games, where one boy and one girl are chosen to become tributes and participants in a televised fight.  

Sixteen-year-old Katniss volunteers as a tribute to replace her younger sister, Prim. She and Peeta become tributes from District 12, exposing them to the Capitol’s violent, bad side.

Throughout the trilogy, Katniss will rebel against the Capitol, especially against the tyrant president, Coriolanus Snow, and his rotten, violent system.

The trilogy books were adapted into films, starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, Liam Hemsworth as Gale, and Donald Sutherland as President Snow.