First trailer of the ‘The Hunger Games’ prequel ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ released

The first trailer for the highly-anticipated ‘The Hunger Games’ prequel movie ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ was released at CinemaCon during Lionsgate’s presentation on Wednesday.

The movie is based on the novel of the same name by ‘The Hunger Games’ author Suzanne Collins, and takes place 64 years before the events of the first ‘The Hunger Games’ book and the movie based on it.

Watch the trailer for ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’

The trailer begins with a first look of ‘Game of Thrones’ star Peter Dinklage as Casca Highbottom, one of the creators of the hunger games, as he leads a group of children during the reaping ceremony.

The first scene of Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12, sees the actress giving a curtsy reminiscent of Jennifer Lawrence in the first ‘Hunger Game’ movie.

Zegler’s character is assigned a mentor in the young Coriolanus Snow (played by Tom Blyth), for the 10th annual Hunger Games, exploring the character before he becomes president of Panem as an adult.

Viola Davis plays Dr. Volumnia Gaul, the head gamemaker of the 10th annual Hunger Games. Also starring in the movie is Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer as Tigris Snow, Coriolanus’ cousin, Jason Schwartzman as Lucretius ‘Lucky’ Flickerman, ancestor to Caesar Flickerman, and Josh Andrés Rivera as Sejanus Plinth.

The official premise for ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’

The official premise for the movie has been released by Lionsgate.

“Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow 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, the female 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.”

When will ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ be released?

Lionsgate is aiming to release the film in theaters on November 17, 2023.