May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor! Everything You Need to Know About the New Hunger Games Movie
It's time for us all to relearn the iconic Hunger Games whistle, because for the first time in eight years, we're getting a new Hunger Games movie. While the main trilogy of books wrapped up over a decade ago, The Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins delivered a nice treat to fans during the pandemic with the release of a prequel novel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The novel, which published in 2021, is set 60+ years before the events of the main series and focuses on Coriolanus Snow, who will become the villain and chief antagonist of Katniss Everdeen. Now, two years later, an adaptation is hitting the big screen!
With filming done, a trailer out and the full cast revealed, there's plenty of information to pick over regarding The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Here's everything you need to know about the new movie:
When does The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes come out?
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will premiere in theaters on Nov. 17, 2023.
Lionsgate
How to watch The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
The Hunger Games prequel will be premiering only in theaters, so you'll have to snag a ticket if you want to see it this November. The film's distributor, Lionsgate, however, has a deal with Peacock, so the movie will likely stream there eventually as well.
Is there a trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snake?
There most certainly is. A teaser trailer was released way back on June 5, 2022, but it didn't include any footage from the actual movie.
This was followed up by an actual trailer on April 27, 2023 that gives us lots of juicy visuals to unpack.
What is The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes about?
The official synopsis reads: “Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from impoverished District 12. But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem's attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor," it continues. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy's race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake."
Related: 20 of the Best Quotes from The Hunger Games Movies
The cast of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
As with the original Hunger Games series, the film's cast is comprised of mostly big name actors in the smaller adult roles while largely unknown child actors will be taking the roles of tributes.
Lionsgate
Rachel Zegler will play Lucy Gray Baird
West Side Story star Rachel Zegler will step into the role Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12 in the 10th annual Hunger Games.
Tom Blyth will play Coriolanus Snow
Billy the Kid actor Tom Blyth will star as a young Coriolanus Snow before he was the president of Panem. Snow was originally played by Donald Sutherland.
HBO
Peter Dinklange will play Casca Highbottom
Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage will be playing the creator of the original Hunger Games and the Dean of the Academy where Coriolanus goes to school.
Netflix
Viola Davis will play Dr. Volumnia Gaul
EGOT-winner Viola Davis will be playing the villain Dr. Volumnia Gaul, who is the head gamemaker for the 10th Hunger Games. If you know Shakespeare, you'll recognize the name as that of Coriolanus's villainous mother in Coriolanus.
Related: Viola Davis has an EGOT. Find out how.
Jason Schwartzman will play Lucky Flickerman
The Wes Anderson staple will be playing the ancestor of Stanley Tucci's Caesar Flickerman, who is the television host of the early Hunger Games.
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Hunter Schafer will play Tigris Snow
Euphoria's Hunter Schafer will play Coriolanus's older cousin, who becomes a stylist for the Hunger Games. You may recognize the name, because she also appears in Mockingjay.
Finnula Flanagan will play Grandma'am
The famed Irish actress will play Coriolanus and Tigris's aristocratic grandmother.
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Josh Andrés Rivera will play Sejanus Plinth
Sejanus Plinth is a mentor for District 2 and another close friend of Snow's. He is played by Josh Andrés Rivera, who played Chino in West Side Story.
Laurel Marsden will play Mayfair Lipp
Mayfair Lipp is a young woman from District 12 who suggests Lucy Gray Baird's name for the Hunger Games. The actress, Laurel Marsden, appeared in 2020's TV series Survive and plays Zoe Zimmer in Ms. Marvel on Disney+.
Nick Benson will play Jessup
Jessup is a tribute from District 12 who must compete alongside Baird and the other districts' tributes. Nick Benson, who plays Jessup, has only appeared in shorts so far, but he is set to guest star in at least one episode of Netflix's upcoming mini-series Boo, Bitch starring Lana Condor.
Hiroki Berrecloth will play Treech
Treech is a tribute from District 7, played by Hiroki Berrecloth. The young actor appeared in the BBC’s Red Rose.
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Luna Steeples will play Dill
Dill is a tribute in the 10th Hunger Games from District 11, played by Luna Steeples, who had a role in the TV series Overdue.
Jerome Lance will play Marcus
Jerome Lance will play Marcus, a tribute from District 2. This will be Lance's first credited role.
Mackenzie Lansing will play Coral
Coral, a tribute from District 4, is played by Mackenzie Lansing. She is one of the more experienced actors in the cast, appearing in Mare of Easttown, The Deuce, and more.
Knox Gibson will play Bobbin
Bobbin is a tribute from District 8, played by Knox Gibson. Previously, Gibson acted in the short film Forgive Us Our Trespasses.
Lilly Cooper will play Arachne Crane
Arachne Crane is a mentor for District 10. Lilly Cooper, who played Murta in The Witcher, will portray Crane.
Aamer Husain will play Felix Ravinstill
Felix Ravinstill, a mentor to a tribute from District 11, is played by Aamer Husain, whose only previous role was in the TV series Hudson & Rex.
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Ashley Liao will play Clemensia Dovecoat
Clemensia Dovecoat is also a mentor for District 11, but along with that, she is a close friend to a young Coriolanus Snow, whom the story centers around. Ashley Liao, who starred in shows like The Kicks, Fuller House, and Physical, plays Dovecoat.
Lionsgate
Is Katniss in Hunger Games in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
Since the prequel is set decades before Katniss Everdeen was even born, it’s unlikely that she will appear in the film.
Is Jennifer Lawrence in Hunger Games in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
No casting news has been announced, but since the prequel is set decades before Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss becomes the tribute from District 12, it’s unlikely she will appear in the movie.
Is Suzanne Collins writing a sequel to Hunger Games in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
Hunger Games in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a dystopian action-adventure novel and prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy. As Collins explores Snow’s path to power in the prequel, the ending feels fully developed, so it does not seem like there will be a second novel.