The Hunger Games prequel: Vanity Fair gives us our first look at the film’s stars

Vanity Fair has given us a first look at the prequel of the popular Hunger Games series, which starred Jennifer Lawrence. Based on the 2020 novel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by author Suzanne Collins, this film will take place 64 years before the events of the first movie. We’ve been given a new image of our two main characters and director, Francis Lawrence spills some details about the upcoming film.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is revealed to be more of a love story between a young Coriolanus Snow, played here by Tom Blyth, and his defiant new mentor, Lucy Gray Baird, played by Rachel Zegler. Lawrence explains, “It’s this kind of love story set in a different kind of a world in a different time. A very intimate love story.” The film will explore Snow being at conflict between two worlds – his delicate mentor and the forceful grip of the film’s antagonist, Dr. Volumnia Gaul.

Dr. Volumnia Gaul is set to be played by Viola Davis. Producer Nina Jacobson describes Snow’s journey in the Vanity Fair article, “He is a young man finding his way in the world, but he also makes choices that presage the man he is becoming. He is a shapeshifter who craves control, but is drawn to a woman who threatens everything he thought he wanted.” Lucy is described as this story’s heart much like Katniss in the original movies.

The director Lawrence also excitedly talks about the state of Panem this time around. Being a prequel, the dystopia will look much different. The world will still be feeling the fallout of the “dark days” which the Hunger Games had spawned from, but it will be a new version of it with a different look, including architecture and interior design and still reflect the fractured spirit of the film’s world and characters. Jacobson adds, “It’s completely different stylistically, in terms of design, character and point of view. To be able to show a different side of Panem at a different time in its history has been really exciting.” Lucy would also be hailing from District 12 and Lawrence boasts about the production design of remaking Katniss’ district in the Vanity Fair article.

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

Are you excited? What do you think?