Movies - The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes : Discover the teaser poster

By Mulder, 25 march 2023

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is an upcoming American science fiction action film directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Michael Arndt and Michael Lesslie, based on the 2020 novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. It is the fifth installment in The Hunger Games film series, serving as a prequel to The Hunger Games (2012). It stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Josh Andres Rivera, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman, Burn Gorman, Peter Dinklage, and Viola Davis.

In August 2017, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer expressed interest in spin-offs of The Hunger Games film series, with intentions to form a writers' room to explore the concept. In June 2019, Joe Drake, chairman of the Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group, announced that the company was working with author Suzanne Collins with regards to an adaptation of the novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. By April 2020, Collins and Lionsgate confirmed that plans were underway for the film's development. Francis Lawrence was later confirmed to direct, after doing so for the prior three films in the series. The screenplay was written by Collins, Michael Arndt, and Michael Lesslie, with Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson as producers along with Lawrence. Collins, in addition, would serve as an executive producer on the film. In August 2021, Drake stated that the film was "moving along really, really well" in pre-production. In May 2022, Tom Blyth was cast as the young President Snow, with Rachel Zegler as his protégée, tribute Lucy Gray Baird. Zegler was originally offered the role in January, but initially turned it down before later changing her mind. In June 2022, Josh Andres Rivera, Hunter Schafer and Jason Schwartzman were cast Throughout June and July 2022, the cast was rounded out with actors portraying the film's multiple tributes and mentors. On August 15, 2022, it was reported that Viola Davis was cast as Volumnia Gaul, the head gamemaker of the 10th annual Hunger Games.  Filming began in Wrocław, Poland on July 11, 2022 and ended in Berlin, Germany on November 5, 2022.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.

The film is scheduled for release theatrically in the United States on November 17, 2023, by Lionsgate.

Synopsis : 
A Hunger Games prequel set 64 years earlier, in the years following the "Dark Days", the first failed rebellion in Panem. Many years before he becomes President of Panem, young Coriolanus Snow is chosen to mentor District 12 in the new Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 
Directed by Francis Lawrence
Screenplay by Michael Arndt, Michael Lesslie
Based on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Produced by Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Francis Lawrence
Starring  Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Josh Andres Rivera, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman, Burn Gorman, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis
Cinematography : Jo Willems
Edited by Mark Yoshikawa
Music by James Newton Howard
Production companies : Color Force, Good Universe, Scholastic Entertainment
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release date : November 15, 2023 (France), November 17, 2023 (United States)