‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Release Date, Cast, and More Details

Cue that familiar four-note whistle because it's time to return to the world of The Hunger Games. This weekend, fans will be venturing back to Panem for another turn in the arena. No, we won't be watching Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen pick up the bow again (although the actress has indicated a willingness to do so at some point). Instead, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, based on Suzanne Collins' prequel novel, actually tells the origin story of Coriolanus Snow, who is, of course, the nefarious president of Panem in the events of the original trilogy.

Here, he's a young man with a family in financial ruin who is chosen to mentor District 12's tribute for the 10th annual Hunger Games, Lucy Gray Baird. Once he watches her sing during her reaping ceremony, he decides she might just have a fighting chance of surviving with his help.

Before the film arrives to take us all back to Panem, here's a look at everything you need to know about The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' release date

THE DETAILS: The film, a prequel to the Hunger Games film trilogy, will hit theaters on Friday, Nov. 17. (Read The Messenger's review of the film right here.)

'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' cast

TLDR: Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler lead the cast as "Coryo" and Lucy Gray respectively, but they're joined by an all-star cast of supporting talents.

THE DETAILS: Though Zegler eventually took on the role of District 12's songbird tribute, the actress initially turned down the role due to the location of filming. She appeared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast and explained, "I was offered it in January of last year after wanting it so badly. I didn't audition, it was just, I got a call from my agent that was like 'Francis Lawrence wants you to do this.' And I met with him for three hours at the Soho Hotel in London. And then he told me that they were filming in Germany and in Poland, and I had just gotten to London, and I wanted to disappear… I was so far away from home for the first time ever, and I was away from everybody that I knew and loved, and I said 'No.' I regretted it the second I said it. I had another project lined up that fell through that got pushed into 2023, and I just kind of put my name back into the mix and got it."

Main cast list:

'Songbirds and Snakes' trailer

THE DETAILS: Lionsgate released the official trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in April 2023. In the trailer, we see that Lucy Gray Baird is reaped for the 10th annual Hunger Games. This time, the event is intent to be both punishment and a spectacle, as Lucky Flickerman is hosting it on television for the first time ever. The trailer also gives a preview of the drama ahead once things officially get underway in the arena.

'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' plot

Songbirds and Snakes follows Coriolanus "Coryo" Snow as he lives with cousin Tigris and his grandmother in a deteriorating home in the Capitol. Though they have a good family name, they have little else to show for themselves, and Coriolanus is intent on changing his own fortune.

He is recruited to serve as mentor for District 12's tribute at the 10th Hunger Games, Lucy Gray Baird, a talented singer and member of a traveling band who must use her wits, voice and her unlikely alliance with Coriolanus if she hopes to survive.

'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' creative team

The film is directed by Francis Lawrence, who previously helmed the adaptations of Catching Fire and Mockingjay. The script is co-written by Michael Leslie (Assassin's Creed) and Michael Arndt (Catching Fire), and it's based on Collins' novel of the same name.

The costume designer for the film is Trish Summerville, who returns to the franchise after creating the looks for Catching Fire. The Messenger spoke with Summerville about what fans might want to look for in the film, and she revealed some early Easter eggs to help with the hunt.

Where to watch 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes'

THE DETAILS: Audiences will only be able to catch the film in theaters when it premieres on Friday, Nov. 17.