Lionsgate has spent the last few years preparing a prequel film after a successful quartet of Hunger Games films starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in the 2010s. After series author, Suzanne Collins disclosed intentions for a prequel book, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was an obvious choice for the studio to expand the multi-billion dollar film franchise. President Coriolanus Snow’s origin story and role in the 10th Hunger Games are told in this narrative.
The movie will be released in November 2023, according to Lionsgate. Following the confirmation of director Francis Lawrence’s return, it was also confirmed that the Hunger Games prequel film was already in the works. Tom Blyth was not cast as young President Coriolanus Snow until after this surprise. This piqued fans’ excitement in finding out who will play Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from District 12 whom Snow is charged with guiding in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Rachel Zegler cast in the lead role in Hunger Games
Rachel Zegler of “West Side Story” will feature in “The Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” “Listen up….. can y’all grow restfully?” Zegler tweeted on Monday night, sparking curiosity over her casting. “Are you becoming an individual resting decisively?” The initial letter of each word in her tweet spells out the main character’s name, Lucy Gray Baird, as eagle-eyed admirers pointed out.
https://t.co/CCjQ7DIncN pic.twitter.com/EXKXqnzLne
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) May 31, 2022
Zegler will play Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, it has been confirmed. The news follows the West Side Story actress‘s lighthearted response to speculations that she had been cast as Lucy Gray. Lionsgate was expected to look for a “Rachel Zegler type” for the Hunger Games prequel film, but they now have Zegler herself.
During the 10th Hunger Games, Snow, who is 18 years old, is chosen to tutor Lucy Gray, a female tribute from the poor District 12, in the next film. The savage televised spectacle, as presented in “The Hunger Games” trilogy — which was adapted into four feature films – randomly picks two youngsters from each district to battle to the death. Lucy Gray captures everyone’s attention by singing at the reaping ritual in the story. Snow feels that with her ability and charm, he will be able to alter the odds in their favor and win the games. The movie as per reports will release in November 2023.
Source – Deadline
