What Is the Hunger Games Prequel ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ About?

The Hunger Games is getting a prequel film which is set to release in 2023. The film will be titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The author of the original Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins, released the book the film will be based on in 2020. 

What is the Story of ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ About?

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel spin-off set sixty-four years before the original Hunger Games trilogy. It follows the main antagonist of The Hunger Games trilogy, President Coriolanus Snow, who was played by Donald Sutherland in the original films before he was president of Panem. 

In this new story, Snow is chosen as a mentor to a tribute for the 10th Hunger Games. The tribute’s name is Lucy Gray Baird and she comes from District 12, the same District that Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist of the original trilogy, comes from. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes serves as a look at a Hunger Games from the perspective of the capital, all while the Districts are eager to rebel. 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sees Snow move through different positions in the Captial after events go awry during the 10th Hunger Games. But ultimately, no movie is one hundred percent faithful to its source material, so it’s still unclear how closely the upcoming film will follow the book. There is also no casting news to report, and it’s very likely that nobody from the original films will reprise their roles.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is slated for a release in 2023 though, so we will probably get some more news on casting soon.

Featured image via Lionsgate.