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The Hunger Games franchise is getting a prequel film, based on Suzanne Collins’ novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes which came out in 2020.

Set 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games, the film will focus on the life of young President Snow and his journey while mentoring a tribute for the 10th annual Hunger Games. It will also show the tragic backstory of Panem and how the games became what they are in the original series.

Set to be released in theatres on November 17, the film will centre on a teenage Coriolanus “Coryo” Snow — who we will later come to know as President Snow. Snow will be training a tribute named Lucy Gray Baird, picked from the impoverished District 12, according to Entertainment Weekly.

“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 favour,” according to a synopsis from the studio. “Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake.”

The film will be directed by Francis Lawrence — who also directed Catching Fire, Mockingjay - Part 1 and Mockingjay - Part 2. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will be returning to their roles as the producers. The screenplay is written by Assassin’s Creed writer Michael Lesslie. Collins, Tim Palen and Jim Miller will act as the executive producers for the film.

Tom Blyth, who acted in Billy the Kid and The Gilded Age, will play the role of Coriolanus Snow while the Shazam! Fury of the Gods actor Rachel Zegler will play Lucy Gray Baird. Josh Andrés Rivera has been cast as Snow’s friend Sejanus Plinth and Euphoria star Hunter Schafer will take the character of Tigris. Tigris, a popular Capitol stylist, was played by Eugenie Bondurant in the original films — she is also revealed to be Snow’s cousin in the prequel.

Viola Davis will play the role of the antagonist, Volumnia Gaul, the head game-maker of the 10th annual Hunger Games. Gaul is a scientist and instructor at the university Snow studies at and is also the mastermind behind the Capitol’s experimental weapons division. Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage will play Casca Highbottom, the dean of the Academy and unintentional creator of the Hunger Games.

Jason Schwartzman will portray Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman, host of the 10th annual Hunger Games and ancestor to Caesar Flickerman, played by Stanley Tucci in the original franchise. There will also be a new set of tributes and mentors, including Jerome Lance as Marcus, a tribute from District 2; Ashley Liao as Clemensia Dovecote, one of Coriolanus’ closest friends and mentor to a tribute from District 11; Knox Gibson as Bobbin, a tribute from District 8; Mackenzie Lansing as Coral, a tribute from District 4; and Aamer Husain as Felix Ravinstill, a mentor to a tribute from District 11.

Other cast members include Fionnula Flanagan, Scott Folan, Honor Gillies, Burn Gorman, Michael Greco, Daniela Grubert, Isobel Jesper Jones, Eike Onyambu, Carl Spencer, Konstantin Taffet and Flora Li Thiemann.

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