Seven years afterMockingjay Part 2was released, a newHunger Gamesprequel film is in the works, based on author Suzanne Collins' book of the same name,The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Released in 2020,Balladfocuses on the most hated character in theHunger Gamestrilogy, President Snow, to provide his villain origin story.
Balladis the fifth installment in theHunger Gamesfilm series, which has amassed almost $3 billion worldwide and boasts four of the top fivehighest-grossing films in Lionsgate history. As well as returning to Panem, fans can look forward to a new cast and new characters, too. From the cast members involved inBalladto when it will be released, here’s everything fans of the franchise need to know about the upcoming movie.
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The Plot
Balladis set 64 years before the events of theHunger Gamesseries, around the time of the 10th annual Hunger Games. President Snow is not yet the tyrannical leader of Panem that viewers have come to hate, but 18-year-old Coriolanus “Coryo” Snow, whose life is somewhat tragic. His once-proud family has fallen on hard times, and he is their last hope of redemption.
As one of the top-performing students of Panem’s Academy — an elite secondary school in the Capitol for wealthy children — Snow thinks he’s found his lucky break when he’s selected to mentor a tribute chosen to compete in the 10th Hunger Games. However, his hopes are dashed when he discovers his mentee is Lucy Gray Baird from the impoverished District 12, home toJennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen. Fortunately, Lucy also shares Katniss' rebellious spirit, and once Snow sees this for himself, he starts to think he might be able to turn the odds in their favor.
The Cast
Tom Blyth will play 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, the younger version of Donald Sutherland’s President Snow in the originalHunger Gamesmovies. Blyth is best known for playing the titular character of the epic adventure seriesBilly the Kid,and has alsostarred in Ridley Scott’sRobin Hoodand Terence Davies’Benediction.Rachel Zeglerwill play Lucy Gray Baird, Snow’s mentee and the female tribute from District 12. Zegler made her film debut as Maria Vasquez in Steven Spielberg’sWest Side Storyadaptation in 2021, a role which won her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy.
Joining them are Zegler’sWest Side Storyco-starJosh Andrés Riveraas Sejanus Plinth, a close friend of young Snow; andViola Davis(The Help,Fences) as Dr. Volumnia Gaul, the villainous head game maker.Hunter Schafer(Euphoria,Belle) will play Tigris, Snow’s older cousin played by Eugenie Bondurant inMockingjay Part 2.Jason Schwartzman(Rushmore,The French Dispatch) appears as Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman, the host of the 10th Hunger Games and ancestor of Stanley Tucci’s Caesar Flickerman.
The film will also featurePeter Dinklage(Game of Thrones,Cyrano) as Casca Highbottom, the dean of the Academy;Laurel Marsden(Survive,Ms. Marvel) as Mayfair Lipp, the daughter of District 12’s Mayor Lipp; and Nick Benson (Best Player,Boo, Bitch) as Jessup Diggs, the male tribute from District 12. Many, many more new faces will appear among this star-studded cast as well.
The Crew
Francis Lawrence, thedirector of theHunger GamessequelsCatching Fire,Mockingjay Part 1,andMockingjay Part 2, returns to directBallad. Lawrence also directed the Will Smith sci-fiI Am Legend, the Robert Pattinson/Reese Witherspoon romance dramaWater for Elephants, and the Jennifer Lawrence thrillerRed Sparrow.
Suzanne Collins and Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine,Catching Fire) will return to write the screenplay forBallad, alongside Michael Lesslie (Macbeth,Assassin’s Creed). Franchise producers Nina Jacobsen and Brad Simpson will also return for the movie. Suzanne Collins, Tim Palen, and Jim Miller will serve as executive producers, with Lionsgate distributingBallad, as it did the original fourHunger Gamesmovies. In an interview withDeadline, Collins expresses her joy over working with the film studio again:
“From the beginning, they have treated the source material with great respect, honoring the thematic and narrative elements of the story, and assembling an incredible team both in front of and behind the camera.”
The Release Date
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesis scheduled for theatrical release on 25 May 2025. It was around this time of year that theHunger Gamessequels were also released. DreamWorks’Trolls 3andJohn Krasinski’s directedIfare set to be released on the same day.
Fans may have a long time to wait for the film, but anticipation and hype will only build. In the meantime, it’s the perfect opportunity to read the book for those who haven’t yet, or to rewatch and/or reread the originalHunger Gamesmaterial.
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