Erin Kim

Nov. 17, 2023 marks an exciting day for Hunger Games fans as the long-awaited “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” hits theaters worldwide.
An adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ New York Times bestselling book, the film will bring beloved characters to life through a cast of star actors.
Tom Blyth will be portraying the infamous Coriolanus Snow. Rachel Zegler and Peter Dinklage are part of the supporting cast, playing Lucy Gray Baird and Dean Casca Highbottom, respectively.
Playing Snow will be one of Blyth’s biggest roles yet, but Zegler has played many notable parts besides Lucy Gray, such as Maria in “West Side Story” and Snow White in the 2024 live action film “Snow White”.
Francis Lawrence, director of “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay” Parts One and Two, is returning once again to direct his fourth film in the Hunger Games franchise.
Additionally, the film will be distributed by the same distributor, Lionsgate.
“The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is set 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteers as tribute to save her beloved sister. The story follows President Snow’s devious rise to power and explores his past, revealing the reasons behind his cruel nature.
Snow is introduced as a brilliant student growing up with his grandmother and cousin Tigris. They had lost everything in the Districts’ first rebellion and now live in extreme poverty, which the family desperately attempts to hide in order to preserve their once mighty name.
Snow is chosen to be a mentor for Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from District 12 in the 10th annual Hunger Games. Despite their differences, Snow is taken by the performer’s charm and finds himself falling in love with his doomed tribute.
Snow holds Lucy Gray’s life in his hands, and to survive she needs to trust him. Winning the Hunger Games would benefit both of them, bringing Snow fame and allowing Lucy Gray to return home. Their relationship started off with brief meetings arranged by the gamemakers, but quickly evolved into something more.
Despite his dire state of poverty, Snow visited Lucy Gray, snuck her food, and spent time with her when it was frowned upon for him to do so.
Though the intention of the Hunger Games was never for Capitol and District children to connect, Snow and Lucy Gray managed to build a bridge to their two very different worlds.
Snow fell hard for the spunky musician, who was more strong-willed than he anticipated. He went as far as to cheat to help her win, with the goal of preserving his own reputation and ensuring her survival against all odds.
After the Hunger Games are over and Lucy Gray is safe from the horrors of the arena, Snow’s involvement is discovered by the malicious head gamemaker, Dr. Gaul.
Disgraced, Snow is sent to District 12 and forced to work as a peacekeeper there as punishment for his actions. While working in District 12, Snow reconnects with his sweetheart and finds himself caught in the middle of love ploys, rebel schemes, and heartbreaking betrayals.
His time in District 12 shapes him into the ruthless man known and hated by Hunger Games fans and will leave the audience with an unfamiliar feeling of sympathy for young Snow.
For many students, this will be their first opportunity to see a Hunger Games movie debut on the big screen, as “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” will be released eight years after the last Hunger Games movie.
Setting the record for the longest Hunger Games film, two hours and 45 minutes, the movie was written with the goal of depicting the novel with as much detail as possible.
Through the live action representation of Lucy Gray and Snow’s characters, Hunger Games fans hope to have some of their questions answered, such as why Snow despised Katniss so vehemently.
The similarities between Katniss and the person behind Snow’s downfall are quite uncanny.
Both Katniss and Lucy Gray share the same fire, toughness and independence that makes it impossible to not draw connections between the two characters. They also demonstrate their powerful ability to connect with a crowd.
The book version of the prequel was released in 2020, 10 years after the final book in the trilogy was published.
After a three year wait between the release of the book and the movie, fans have high hopes for the new film.