The Hunger Games prequel trailer debuts all-star cast
We hope you've been practising your three-finger salute because The Hunger Games is coming back in a big way. While it's not Jennifer Lawrence drawing back her bow as Katniss Everdeen, director Francis Lawrence (no relation) returns to helm The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
It's been eight years since things went to sh*t in Panem, but instead of seeing the story continue after Coriolanus Snow, we're going back to the start to see how he became the tyrannical overlord of this dystopian world. The first trailer for The Hunger Games prequel is here, and boy, is it packing a punch.
In a time Warner Bros. is powering forward with more Lord of the Rings movies and a live-action Harry Potter reboot series (for some reason), another major IP is being brought back into the spotlight.
Who is in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
Taking the lead, Benediction's Tom Blyth plays a young Coriolanus "Coryo" Snow, who is a mentor to the participants in the 10th annual Hunger Games and future President of Panem. By his side is Shazam! Fury of the Gods' Rachel Zegler as love interest, Lucy Gray Baird - a female tribute from District 12
There are all the movers and shakers, with Game of Thrones' Peter Dinklage as Casca Highbottom, the creator of the Hunger Games. Oscar-winner Viola Davis is head gamekeeper Dr. Volumnia Gaul, who also implemented the Hunger Games in the first place.
The cast is rounded off by Euphoria's Hunter Schafer as Tigris Snow, Coryo's cousin and stylist. Fans of the series will know Eugenie Bondurant appeared as Tigris in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2. Finally, Wes Anderson favourite Jason Schwartzman portrays TV personality Lucretius "Lucky" Flickerman.
What is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes about?
Click to enlargeAdapting Suzanne Collins' 2020 novel of the same name, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (obviously) takes place during the event of the 10th games. Serving as a Maleficent-inspired villain origin story for Snow, he effectively takes on the role of Woody Harrelson's Haymitch from the original series.
Charting an era where the Hunger Games moves into showmanship instead of bloodsports, it offers a new side to the story we thought we knew. At least it strikes the right balance between household names and newcomers. If you're interested, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes hits cinemas on November 17.
As the first Hunger Games movie not to star Lawrence, it'll be interesting to see how this one goes. Fantastic Beasts started out strong and quickly fell from grace, but if The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a hit, get ready for a reinvigorated Hunger Games franchise.