The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes - All You Need To Know

Layla Will
Nov 13, 2023
Nov 13, 2023

Are you prepared to dive back into the Hunger Games universe? Brace yourself because The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, the highly anticipated prequel, is just around the corner, ready to transport us back to Panem.

While the last Hunger Games movie, Mockingjay: Part 2, graced theaters in 2015, Suzanne Collins, the author, revisited the captivating world with the 2020 prequel novel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Now, this literary gem is set to hit the big screen, starring Tom Blyth as President Coriolanus Snow and Rachel Zegler, the rising star from West Side Story, as District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Release Date

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes poster

Source: Lionsgate

Mark your calendars for November 17, as The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes hits theaters in the US, coinciding with the Thanksgiving holiday break. Check out the film's official website for more info.

What Is 'The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' About?

Taking us 64 years back, the film unfolds as a prequel to the original Hunger Games series, primarily focusing on President Snow's backstory. It delves into the creation and early days of the brutal Hunger Games, offering a glimpse into its spectacle and the events leading to the "modern" Panem.

The official synopsis reads:

“Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol.” Assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from impoverished District 12, Snow finds himself entangled in a race against time, blending instincts for showmanship with political savvy, as they strive to survive and reveal who is a "songbird" and who is a "snake."

Which Actors/Characters Are Returning In This Prequel?

While the original cast won't make an appearance, younger versions of familiar characters, including President Snow and his cousin Tigris Snow, are part of the cast. As per the film's IMDb page, it boasts a star-studded lineup, featuring Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, and Viola Davis, among others.

Peter Dinklage plays Dean Casca Highbottom, the creator of the actual Games.
Hunter Schafer portrays the young version of Tigris Snow.
Viola Davis takes on the role of the cruel Dr. Volumnia Gaul, a.k.a the Head Gamemaker.
Tom Blyth plays Coriolanus Snow, the future dictator of Panem
Dexter Sol Ansell plays a younger Coriolanus Snow

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Trailers

Excitement builds with not one but two official trailers for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The first, released in April 2023, hints at Lucy's memorable moments, with an unexpected nod to the original heroine, Katniss Everdeen. The second, unveiled in September 2023, delves deeper into Snow's perspective, questioning the purpose of the Hunger Games.

Official Trailer 1:

Official Trailer 2:

Reviews From Critics

As of the moment of writing, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes has received a Rotten Tomatoes score of 66%. The critics' consensus reads:

"An outstanding cast and exciting story help make The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes a worthy return to Panem in spite of a rushed and somewhat frustrating ending."

Here are what some of the top critics on the site who gave the movie a Fresh Tomato score have to say about it:

"Another rock-solid addition to the film franchise. Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes loses some steam in the last chapter, but the first two are phenomenal, and the cast is on point. Tom Blyth excels playing a protagonist with a deteriorating moral compass." - Perri Nemiroff, Collider Video.
"Imagine if 'The Phantom Menace' was better than every episode of George Lucas’ original 'Star Wars' trilogy." - Brian Truitt, USA Today
"A muddled but grimly compelling prequel to the hit franchise." - Tim Grierson, Screen International
"Feels like a natural extension of the saga, balancing bloodsport, endangered young love and a heightened level of political commentary that respects the intelligence of young audiences as only Collins can." - Peter Debruge, Variety
"It’s the origin story of Panem’s chief sociopath, president Coriolanus Snow (played by Donald Sutherland in the original films), that instead feels like the yassification of a future monster." - Clarisse Loughrey, Independent (UK)

On the other hand, not all critics liked the film:

"This movie finally ties itself into various knots to prefigure the later world of Katniss, but the time to end the Games came long ago." - Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
"Even devotees of Collins’s book might walk away from this adaptation calloused and confused, so rushed does the final turn of Corio’s screw feel." - Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail
"Songbirds and Snakes is divided into three chapters, and there’s something heart-sinking about realizing that, after the Hunger Games sequence plays out, the movie still has one more chapter to go." - Alonso Duralde, The Film Verdict

Is The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Opening Up A Future of Hunger Games Movies?

While Suzanne Collins hasn't penned additional Hunger Games books, fans have expressed interest in more cinematic ventures. For now, the focus remains on The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and any future developments will keep Hunger Games enthusiasts on the edge of their seats.

Gear up for a riveting journey back to Panem, where the odds are never in anyone's favor. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes promises a thrilling prequel that will captivate both longtime fans and newcomers to this dystopian saga.