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Following on quickly after the confirmation that West Side Story star Rachel Zegler will star in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the first teaser has now been revealed. Revealed during the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards, the footage is very much a tease of what’s to come, as we are invited to “return to the games.”
The teaser is a frosty one, as a songbird and a snake encased in ice slowly begin to break out before launching into an attack. As well as inviting us to go back to the dreaded games, the brief teaser also reveals that audiences “will discover who is a songbird and who is a snake” when The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes lands in theaters in 2023.
A prequel to the popular Hunger Games franchise and based on the book by author Suzanne Collins, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will focus on an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, the man who will become the tyrannical President of Panem, played in the movie series by Donald Sutherland. Far from the evil overlord audiences are familiar with, Coriolanus was once a member of one of the richest families in the Capitol but is now an orphan living in destitution with his grandmother and cousin.
Coriolanus is given an opportunity to change his fortune when he is chosen to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from the impoverished District 12. Determined to make an impression, as his success in the games will likely guarantee the monetary prize he needs to attend the University, Coriolanus will do anything to emerge victorious.
Tom Blyth & Rachel Zegler Will Lead The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Director Francis Lawrence, who is known for helming three of the four installments in the Hunger Games franchise, will return to direct The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Actor Tom Blyth is on board to star as the young Coriolanus Snow, with Rachel Zegler set to play Lucy Gray Baird. Based on the names and knowing what we know, it should not be too difficult to work out who is the snake and who is the songbird.
Zegler was recently confirmed to play a major role in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which will see her star continue to rise rapidly. “Like everybody, I first saw Rachel Zegler in ‘West Side Story,’ and like everybody, I knew I was watching a star who would command the screen for a generation,” Francis Lawrence said of Zegler’s casting. “Lucy Gray is a perfect match for her as an actress: the character is bold, independent, and defiant, but also vulnerable, emotional, and loving. Rachel will make this character unforgettable.”
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Nathan Kahane adds, “When you read Suzanne’s book, Lucy Gray’s emotional intelligence, physical agility, and fiercely powerful, determined singing voice shine through. Rachel embodies all of those skills — she is the perfect choice for our Lucy Gray,” with author Suzanne Collins excited to be re-teaming with the studio for the Hunger Games prequel, “Lionsgate has always been the cinematic home of The Hunger Games, and I’m delighted to be returning to them with this new book.”
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set to open in theaters on November 17, 2023.
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