The official trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes was released on the Lionsgate Movies YouTube account on Thursday.
The clip starred Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird, the District 12 tribute for the 10th episode of the Hunger Games, fighting to stay alive while holding a grip on the public consciousness of Panem.
The film, whose release date was announced last April, serves as a prequel to the hugely successful trilogy of Hunger Games films, which were released from 2012 to 2015.
The trailer kicked off with game creator Dr. Volumnia Gaul, played by Viola Davis, who introduced Casca Highbottom, portrayed by Peter Dinklage, to an audience of representatives from Panem’s 12 districts.
Baird was then seen after being chosen to take part in the deadly games, bowing publicly to a crowd while keeping a slightly spiteful look on her face.
New footage: The official trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes was released on the Lionsgate Movies YouTube account on Thursday
High-Stakes Competition: The clip starred Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird, District 12’s tribute to the 10th episode of the Hunger Games, as she fought to stay alive while holding onto the public consciousness of Panem
After Baird was loaded onto a train along with other game participants, Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth, was told by Highbottom to “turn these kids into goggles, not survivors.”
Snow then told Zegler’s character that his job was to “take care of you,” to which she replied, “Do you really want to take care of me in that arena?” Start thinking I can really win.’
Lucky Flickerman, played by Jason Schwartzman, then reprized his role as the “first ever host of the Hunger Games” right before the start of the bloody ceremony.
While Baird barely survived the first few minutes of the Games, Gaul asked Snow, “What’s going on in there?” Fueled by the fear of becoming prey, see how quickly we become a predator?’
Zegler’s character then went on to tell Snow that she felt there was “a natural goodness built into all of us” before Panem’s future president entered the ruined arena.
After Baird and Snow spent time with some of their friends at an idyllic lake, she was seen performing a concert before Flickerman commented that her televised musical performance would count as her “final performance.”
After a tribute interrupted a television broadcast describing Hunger Games supporters as “monsters,” Snow’s time in military service was shown, telling, “It’s the things we love most that destroy us.”
Building suspense: The trailer kicked off with game maker Dr. Volumnia Gaul, played by Viola Davis, who introduced Casca Highbottom, portrayed by Peter Dinklage, to an audience of representatives from Panem’s 12 districts
New job: After Baird was loaded onto a train along with other game participants, Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth, was told by Highbottom to “turn these kids into goggles, not survivors”
Concerned: Snow then told Zegler’s character his job was to ‘take care of you’
Talking head: Lucky Flickerman, played by Jason Schwartzman, then took on his role as the ‘first ever host of the Hunger Games’ just before the start of the bloody ceremony
Ominous: After Baird and Snow spent time with some of their friends at an idyllic lake, she was seen performing a concert before Flickerman noted that her televised musical performance would count as her “last performance”
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, which was published in 2020.
The book served as a prequel to the original three Hunger Games novels, which were published in 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively.
The novels were adapted into a series of four films, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Woody Harrelson, among others.
The films received generally positive reception from critics and all were hits at the box office.
Development on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was first revealed to the public in 2019, ahead of the book’s release.
The project was officially confirmed the following year, when Francis Lawrence was confirmed as director.
The filmmaker previously directed three of the four original Hunger Games films.
Blyth and Zegler reportedly signed up as the film’s main characters in May last year.
Source material: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, published in 2020
Next in line: The book served as a prequel to the original three Hunger Games novels, which were published in 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively
Jumping the gun: Development on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was first revealed to the public in 2019, ahead of the book’s release
Back on: The project was officially confirmed the following year, when Francis Lawrence, who directed three of the four Hunger Games films, was confirmed as director
Hard at work: Physical production on the film began last July and wrapped in November
Coming soon: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be released on November 17
The West Side Story actress initially turned down the project before changing her mind and agreeing to appear in the film.
Artists such as Hunter Schafer, Burn Gorman and Ashley Liao will also appear in supporting roles.
Physical production on the film began last July and wrapped in November.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be released on November 17.