The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 2023 Movie Review Trailer Online

Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage and Hunter Schafer star in the prequel, directed by Francis Lawrence.

May the odds always be in our favor when the highly anticipated prequel to "The Hunger Games" heads to theaters.

Director: Francis Lawrence
Writers: Michael Arndt, Suzanne Collins, Michael Lesslie
Stars: Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman

Based on Suzanne Collins' novel "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," the prequel film will reveal the origin story behind the world of the viral series "The Hunger Games," starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and Josh Hutcherson. in a love triangle in the wake of the post-apocalyptic life and death tournament made up of teenage tributes.

Director Francis Lawrence returns to the franchise to direct "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," introducing a new crop of tributes. Screenwriter Michael Lesslie ("Assassin's Creed") pens the script. The origin story of the president of Panem, Coriolanus Snow, played by Donald Sutherland in the original films, is also revealed, with breakout star of "The Gilded Age" Tom Blyth as the young Coriolanus. Rachel Zegler stars in the title role. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 17, 2023.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is set during the tenth annual Hunger Games. Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), 18, is selected as a mentor to District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird, played by "West Side Story" and "Snow White" star Rachel Zegler.

Coriolanus is the "last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol," according to an official Lionsgate synopsis. “But after Lucy Gray commands all the attention of Panem singing defiance during the harvest ceremony, Snow thinks he could turn the odds in his favor. Marrying their showmanship instincts and their newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy's race against time to survive will finally reveal who is a songbird and who is a snake.

“Billy the Kid” and “The Gilded Age” actor Tom Blyth will play the younger version of Donald Sutherland's iconic ruler, Coriolanus Snow. Blyth also recently starred in Terrence Davies' Siegfried Sassoon biopic, “Benediction,” as World War I-era actor and theater director Glen Byam Shaw.

After being cast by Steven Spielberg and making her feature film debut in the Oscar-winning “West Side Story,” Rachel Zegler will appear in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”, “Snow White” and the animated film “Spellbound”. Zegler will play the mysterious newcomer Lucy Gray Baird, who will fight for her life in the Hunger Games.

Zegler's “West Side Story” co-star Josh Andrés Rivera will play Coriolanus' friend Sejanus Plinth. Rising "Euphoria" star Hunter Schafer has been cast as Tigris, Coriolanus's cousin and confidante, who is a stylist for the Capitol. Eugenie Bondurant played Tigris in the original franchise, with "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" revealing Tigris' family connection to Coriolanus.

Jerome Lance plays Marcus, Lucy's fellow tribute from District 12. Ashley Liao plays Clemensia Dovecote, one of Coriolanus' closest friends and mentor to a tribute from District 11. Aamer Husain plays Felix Ravinstill, another mentor to a tribute from District 11. Knox Gibson will play Bobbin, a tribute from District 8, while "Mare of Easttown" alum Mackenzie Lansing is Coral, a tribute from District 4.

Additional cast members include Max Raphael as Festus Creed, a mentor to a District 4 tribute. Zoe Renee, fresh off the Sundance Award-winning “Master,” stars as Lysistrata Vickers, a mentor to a District 12 tribute. Ayomide Adegun will play Pliny "Pup" Harrington, mentor to a District 7 tribute. Kaitlyn Akinpelumi will play Domita Whimsiwick, mentor to a District 10 tribute. Ukrainian actress and advocate Sofía Sánchez will play District 8 tribute Wovey, with Amélie Hoeferle as Vipsania Sickle, mentor of the District 7 tribute.

Irene Boehm will play Lamina, a tribute from District 7. Cooper Dillon as Mizzen, a tribute from District 4. Luna Kuse will play Brandy, a tribute from District 10. Kjell Brutscheidt will play another tribute from District 10 named Tanner. Dimitri Abold as Reaper, a tribute from District 11.

Athena Strates will play Persephone Price, a mentor to Mizzen from District 4. Dakota Shapiro will play Billy Taupe, a member of Covey. George Somner will play Spruce from District 12, and Vaughan Reilly is Maude Ivory, another member of Covey.

Watch The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 2023 Trailer