THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES (2023): Upcoming Prequel Set to Tread New Ground for Popular Science Fiction Franchise

The Hunger Games Prequel Will Not Be the Same Old Story

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set to explore the rise of a character less heroic than the one featured in the earlier films in the franchise.

Those who have read The Hunger Games prequel book, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, know that this work is a whole different animal from The Hunger Games pictures that did tremendous business at the box-office last decade. This will not be a picture about the rise of another Katniss Everdeen-type character despite the presence of star Rachel Zegler in one of the movie’s biggest roles. Zegler will serve as tribute Lucy Gray Baird but the picture will belong to Tom Blyth’s (eventually) villainous character, Coriolanus Snow, who grows up to be played by Donald Sutherland in the films that have preceded this new picture.

Nina Jacobson, the producer of the upcoming prequel, has declared this new movie a whole new adventure for fans of the first slew of pictures that starred the incomparable Jennifer Lawrence as Everdeen. That’s because this film will explore uncharted territory as it deals with a very precise and rather intriguing story line. Lifted from Suzanne Collins’ novel, the premise will actually center on Snow’s origin story.

Lucy Gray Baird is a singer and talented performing artist from District 12. The character of Snow is dealing with a lot of pressure in this film as the charisma that he possesses will not single-handedly get him the education he so desperately desires. This fact complicates already tense circumstances as the characters played by Zegler and Blyth become intertwined in amazingly captivating ways as the plot unfolds.

Also starring in the upcoming picture directed by Francis Lawrence and featuring a score by James Newton Howard, is Peter Dinklage who was not too long ago robbed of an Oscar nomination for Cyrano. The Woman King actress who was snubbed earlier this year for a Best Actress Oscar nod, Viola Davis, will also play a key role as well in the picture. Finally, the last heavy-hitter on board the project is none other than the always terrific Jason Schwartzman who is currently wowing audiences in Wes Anderson’s acclaimed gem, Asteroid City.

For those who haven’t read Suzanne Collin’s terrific prequel book, get ready to be taken on a ride like no other with Lawrence’s upcoming prequel. Lucy Gray Baird is a bit different than Katniss Everdeen but given Zegler’s brilliant work in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, you can bet that Baird is going to be one of the most intriguing characters at the movies this fall. Look for the new picture on November 17th which is a little later this year. It’s sure to be one of the biggest box-office hits of the season and could top $200 million in domestic ticket sales!

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