Hunger Games prequel movie: Release date, cast, story, and how to catch up

The Hunger Games prequel novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, will be turned into a movie next year. Unfortunately, details are thin about the film adaptation, but Pocket-lint is still rounding up everything we know so far, including the release date and details about the story. Trailers are not yet available, but we'll add them here once they're announced.

Hunger Games prequel: Official title

The Hunger Games prequel movie will be called The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. It's based on the same-name prequel novel written by Suzanne Collins, the author of the original Hunger Games trilogy.

Hunger Games prequel: Release date

• Release date: Currently scheduled to hit cinemas on 17 November 2023

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie will release in theatres on 17 November 2023. The prequel was announced during Lionsgate's event at Cinemacon, a yearly conference where film studios preview their projects. 

Hunger Games prequel: Where to stream

• Watch online from: Peacock

It was recently announced that NBCUniversal's Peacock signed a multi-year deal to stream Lionsgate movies. And, yes, the agreement does include The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes for when it releases. It will likely land in cinemas first for at least 45 days before coming to the Peacock streaming service for anyone to watch from the comfort of their couch.

Peacock first launched in 2020. It is a video streaming service in the US that draws on NBCUniversal's wide swathe of properties. It's available in three tiers: Peacock Free, Peacock Premium with Ads (an ad-supported version that costs $4.99-a-month or $49.99 a year), and Peacock Premium (a $9.99-a-month or $99.99 annually subscription option that has fewer ads).

For more about Peacock, see Pocket-lint's guide.

Hunger Games prequel: Story

The novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was released in 2020.

The story is about Coriolanus Snow, the president of Panem during the original trilogy, as a young man. It's also about Lucy Gray Baird, a mysterious girl from District 12, whom Snow mentors through the 10th Hunger Games. Keep in mind Katniss Everdeen - the focus of the original trilogy set over 60 years later - comes from District 12 and opposes Snow and his regime. 

Synopsis

The Lionsgate synopsis for the film reads:

"Years before he would become the tyrannical president of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow sees a chance for a change in fortunes when he is chosen to be a mentor to Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from impoverished District 12."

Logline

The Lionsgate logline for the film reads:

"Coriolanus Snow mentors and develops feelings for the female District 12 tribute during the 10th Hunger Games."

Hunger Games prequel: Cast and crew

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be developed by Color Force and distributed by Lionsgate. Production will reportedly start in the first half of 2022, according to Deadline.

Cast

So far Lionsgate has not yet announced the entire cast for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. But there have been a handful of confirmations:

• Tom Blyth will play the lead role of Coriolanus Snow, according to Screenrant.
• "West Side Story" actor Rachel Zegler revealed she is set to star as Lucy Gray Baird
• Jerome Lance will star as Marcus, a tribute from District 2.
• Knox Gibson and Mackenzie Lansing will play tributes from District 8 and District 4, Bobbin and Coral.
• Ashley Liao and Aamer Husain will play Clemensia Dovecote and Felix Ravinstill, mentors to the tributes from District 11.

Director

Lionsgate said The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie will be directed by Francis Lawrence, who previously helmed the franchise’s Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Mockingjay Part 2. The Hunger Games  is among the highest-grossing film franchises of all time. It earned nearly $3 billion worldwide.

Writers

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie will be written by Catching Fire writer Michael Arndt.

Hunger Games prequel: Trailers

There are no trailers yet for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

However, Lionsgate reportedly showed a brief teaser during its presentation at CinemaCon 2022. "You’re invited to return to the Games", read the screen as ice melted in a wintry scene, revealing a bird and a snake, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "In 2023, the world will discover who is a songbird, and who is a snake." The teaser is not yet available online to share with the public.

Hunger Games prequel: How to catch up

You really should watch the previous Hunger Games films in order to go into The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes with a good knowledge of the world, story, and the characters:

• Watch The Hunger Games (2012) on Amazon
• Watch The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) on Amazon
• Watch The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014) on Amazon
• Watch The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2015) on Amazon
   

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