It’s time to head back to Panem and the world of The Hunger Games. In our latest look at The Hunger Games prequel movie, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, it’s terror that’s on display. The purpose of the Games, the trailer makes quite clear, is fear and control. And there are certainly a new set of horrors heading our way. But, ironically, it’s Coriolanus Snow who is our hinge of morality this time around, alongside the charismatic Lucy Gray Baird. But will Snow be able to remember it’s not only Lucy Gray Baird that’s suffering? Well, probably not. But it will be an interesting journey all the same. You can take a look at the latest trailer for The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, below.
There are a few too many snakes in this The Hunger Games prequel for our tastes. But we guess, as mentioned, fear is the whole point. And, it is in the title, after all. We were talking about the actual animals, but we guess the figurative snakes aren’t much better. In fact, they are probably worse. This The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes trailer also cleverly harkens back to the original The Hunger Games movies by playing the haunting notes of “The Hanging Tree.” Ultimately, it has our attention. And, if nothing else, its cast is really bringing their best performances to this The Hunger Games movie.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis.
In addition to the trailer, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes has a new synopsis. It reads:
Experience the story of THE HUNGER GAMES — 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem.
THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.
Ultimately, Panem is a poisonous place, no matter who you are. But it’s definitely more poisonous for the tributes than the citizens of the Capitol. We’ll have to wait and see who emerges a songbird and who a snake.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes releases in theaters and IMAX on November 17.
