The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: Lionsgate Reveals First Teaser For The Hunger Games Prequel

At the 2022 MTV awards, Lionsgate Movies revealed the first official teaser for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the anticipated prequel of the Hunger Games movie franchise based on the book by Suzanne Collins.

Collins wrote the original Hunger Games trilogy, which was adapted into four movies starring Jennifer Lawrence between 2012 and 2015. The movie franchise grossed almost three billion dollars and it was a huge success. The original movie was released in 2012 and it starred Lawrence in the role of Katniss Everdeen. Lawrence reprised the role in 2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and the movie series was concluded with a two-part adaptation of the third book — The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — with the first part released in 2014 and the second part in 2015.

Collins, the author of the novel trilogy, later wrote a prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and the book was first published in May 2020. Almost immediately after the book was released, the plans for the adaptation began, and Lionsgate confirmed that the prequel will be adapted into a movie of the same name, with the movie’s release date set for November 17, 2023.

You can check the first teaser and the official synopsis down below:

“Return to The Hunger Games, the landmark film franchise that has earned over $3 billion globally, with Lionsgate’s adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ #1 New York Times Bestseller The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the girl tribute from impoverished District 12. But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy Gray’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake.” — The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, official description

Francis Lawrence, who directed the second, third, and fourth installments of the Hunger Games movie series is back to direct this prequel from the screenplay written by Michael Arndt. Author Suzanne Collins is credited for the story. The movie will star Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set to be released on November 17, 2023.