The wait is finally over! The highly-anticipated prequel to the iconic Hunger Games series titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is hitting the big screen on November 17th. Here is everything you need to know- sans spoilers!
- the leadup
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This movie takes place before the ‘Hunger Games’ trilogy, which includes The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. So technically, you don’t need to watch the original movies to understand the plot of this movie. However, it may be helpful to watch the others before going into this movie to fully comprehend the lore and to compare how the Games progressed. The whole series is available for streaming on Peacock!
- Who’s in it?
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There are also some big names and fan favorites staring in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Rachel Zegler, known for her role as María in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story, will be taking on the lead role of Lucy Gray Baird. Euphoria star Hunter Schafer will also be playing a major role in the movie as Tigris Snow, cousin to President Snow. Speaking of President Snow, he will be played by up-and-coming star Tom Blyth. Internationally-recognized and Emmy award winner Peter Dinklage rounds out the cast with his role as the antagonist of the movie, Casca Highbottom.
- Synopsis of plot
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The film, based on the book of the same name by Suzanne Collins, follows the story of how the annual Hunger Games event came to be and how President Snow gained his power. It takes place 64 years before the original Hunger Games movie, during the 10th annual Hunger Games. President Snow (known simply as Coriolanus Snow in the film) is a mentor for the Games and gets assigned to advise Lucy Gary Baird from District 12 as she participates in the Games. Themes of rebellion, power, and loss of innocence are all prevalent throughout the film.
That’s all you need to know about The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes; I am so excited to see this film come to life in theaters!