New Trailer - The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

The Hunger Games was one of the stand-out franchise series from the 2010s, fusing dystopian action-adventure in a post-apocalyptic version of North America split into twelve districts. Highly influenced by the 2000 Japanese horror-thriller Battle Royale, the story followed Katniss Everdeen as she was forced to participate in brutal, gladiatorial-style combat for the nation's entertainment. Ultimately, she would become one of the rebel leaders who overthrew the oppressive regime that ruled Panem.

The government's brutal puppet master and dictator was President Coriolanus Snow, wonderfully played by veteran actor Donald Sutherland in the movies. Author Suzanne Collins wrote a prequel to the main series, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, released in 2020, which focused on a younger Snow before he became the cold, authoritarian leader we saw in the main series.

The film adaptation of the book will hit cinema screens later this year - check out the new trailer here.

When Will The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Be Released in Cinemas?

The Hunger Games prequel will debut worldwide on 17^th November 2023.

Who Is Directing the Film?

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is directed by Francis Lawrence, who directed three Hunger Games movies.

Who Is Starring in The Movie?

Tom Blyth takes on the role of 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, with Rachel Zegler portraying the tribute he mentors. Peter Dinklage portrays Casca Highbottom, the first architect of the Hunger Games. Hunter Schafer, Viola Davis and others feature in supporting roles.

Who Composed the Soundtrack?

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is scored by James Newton Howard, one of the film industry's finest composers.

What Is The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes About?

The new Hunger Games prequel focuses on an earlier period of Panem history than the one we saw in the main series. Set 64 years before the first instalment, the book and upcoming film follow a young Coriolanus Snow as he mentors a tribute in the tenth Hunger Games, which takes place inside a much more low-key amphitheatre than we're used to from previous Hunger Games films.

His tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, is a mysterious and rebellious member of a group of travelling musicians who will remind many viewers of Katniss Everdeen's character. Over the course of the film, the kind-yet-ambitious Snow will flirt with rebellion before ultimately becoming the cold villain we know.

It will be interesting to see how the teenage Snow turns into such an evil character, and we can't wait to see the film in November.