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The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

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This article is about the film. For the novel, see The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFrancis Lawrence
Screenplay by
Based onThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
by Suzanne Collins
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJo Willems
Edited byMark Yoshikawa
Music byJames Newton Howard
Production
companies
Distributed byLionsgate
Release dates
  • November 5, 2023 (2023-11-05) (Berlin)
  • November 17, 2023 (2023-11-17) (United States)
Running time
157 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100 million[3]

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a 2023 American dystopian action film directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt. It is based on the 2020 novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins, serves as a prequel to The Hunger Games (2012), and is the fifth installment in The Hunger Games film series. The film stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis. Set 64 years before the events of the first film, its plot follows the events that eventually lead a young Coriolanus Snow on the path to becoming the tyrannical leader of Panem, including his relationship with the Hunger Games tribute Lucy Gray Baird during the year of the 10th Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes had its European premiere in Berlin, Germany on November 5, 2023,[4] and is scheduled to be released in the United States on November 17, 2023, by Lionsgate Films. The film received praise for its cast, production values and story, but criticism for its ending.[5]

Premise

"Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, eighteen-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."

— Lionsgate Films[6]

Cast

  • Tom Blyth as Coriolanus "Coryo" Snow: A mentor for the upcoming 10th Hunger Games and future President of Panem.
  • Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird: The female tribute from District 12 who forms a connection with Coriolanus, and a member of the Covey, a travelling musician group.
  • Josh Andrés Rivera as Sejanus Plinth: A classmate and friend of Snow, and the mentor to a tribute from District 2. He is from District 2 but now lives in the Capitol.
  • Hunter Schafer as Tigris Snow: Coriolanus's older cousin and confidante, who advises him in everything. She would go on to become a stylist in the Games and an ally to Katniss Everdeen and the resistance against Panem.
  • Peter Dinklage as Casca "Cas" Highbottom: Dean of the Academy and intellectual author of the Hunger Games.
  • Jason Schwartzman as Lucretius "Lucky" Flickerman: The first television host for the 10th Hunger Games and assumed ancestor to Caesar Flickerman, who would host later editions of the Games.
  • Viola Davis as Dr. Volumnia Gaul: The head gamemaker of the 10th Hunger Games and the person who actually implemented them in the first place.
  • Fionnula Flanagan as Grandma'am: Coriolanus and Tigris's strict grandmother.
  • Burn Gorman as Commander Hoff: The leader of the peacekeepers in District 12.
  • Ashley Liao as Clemensia Dovecote: A classmate and friend of Snow, and a mentor to a tribute from District 11.[7]
  • Max Raphael as Festus Creed: A classmate of Snow, and mentor to a tribute from District 4.[8]
  • Zoe Renee as Lysistrata Vickers: A classmate of Snow, and mentor of the other District 12 tribute, Jessup.[8]
  • Nick Benson as Jessup: The male tribute from District 12 alongside Lucy Gray.[9]
  • Isobel Jesper Jones as Mayfair Lipp: The daughter of District 12's mayor and a rival of Lucy Gray.[10]
  • George Somner as Spruce: A citizen from District 12.[11]
  • Eike N.A. Onyambu as Tam Amber (as Eike Onyambu)[12]

The tributes for the 10th Hunger Games who form an alliance, known as "the Pack", include: Mackenzie Lansing as Coral, the female tribute from District 4;[7] Cooper Dillon as Mizzen, the male tribute from District 4;[11][13] Hiroki Berrecloth as Treech, the male tribute from District 7; and Kjell Brutscheidt as Tanner, the male tribute from District 10.[11] Other members of Lucy Gray's travelling musician group, the Covey, include: Dakota Shapiro as Billy Taupe, who is Lucy Gray's former love interest,[11] Vaughan Reilly as Maude Ivory,[11] Honor Gillies as Barb Azure,[10] Eike Onyambu as Tam Amber,[10] and Konstantin Taffet as Clerk Carmine.[10] Additionally, Michael Greco and Daniela Grubert appear as Strabo Plinth and Mrs. Plinth, Sejanus' parents,[10] while Carl Spencer and Scott Folan appear as Smiley and Beanpole, two peacekeepers sent by the Capitol to District 12.[10]

Production

Development

Promotional poster in John Halle's Hall, a medieval hall house now the foyer of the Odeon Cinema, Salisbury, UK, April 15, 2023.

In August 2011 Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer expressed interest in spin-offs of The Hunger Games film series, with intentions to form a writers' room to explore the concept.[13]

In June 2019, Joe Drake, chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, announced that the company was working with author Suzanne Collins with regards to an adaptation of the novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.[14] By April 2020, Collins and Lionsgate confirmed that plans were underway for the film's development. Francis Lawrence was later confirmed to direct, after doing so for the prior three films in the series since The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The screenplay was written by Collins, Michael Arndt and Michael Lesslie, with Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson as producers along with Lawrence.[15][16] Concerned over the book's length, Lawrence briefly considered to split the film in two parts like he did with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, but desisted due to his regrets over that decision. Jacobson felt that the finished film had a "daunting" length but feels that it "really goes by so fast".[17] Collins, in addition, would serve as an executive producer on the film.[16] In August 2021, Drake stated that the film was "moving along really, really well" in pre-production.[16]

Casting

In May 2022, Tom Blyth was cast as the young President Snow,[18] with Rachel Zegler as his protégée, tribute Lucy Gray Baird.[19] Zegler was originally offered the role in January, but initially turned it down before later changing her mind.[20] In June 2022, Josh Andrés Rivera (who previously starred in 2021's West Side Story alongside Zegler), Hunter Schafer and Jason Schwartzman were cast.[21][22][23] Peter Dinklage was cast in the following month.[24] Throughout June and July 2022, the cast was rounded out with actors portraying the film's multiple tributes and mentors.[7][9][8][11] On August 15, 2022, it was reported that Viola Davis was cast as Volumnia Gaul, the head gamemaker of the 10th annual Hunger Games.[25] On September 16, 2022, more cast members were revealed, including Burn Gorman and Fionnula Flanagan.[10]

Filming

Filming began in Wrocław, Poland on July 11, 2022 and ended in Berlin, Germany on November 5, 2022.[16][26] Filming locations included the Monument to the Battle of the Nations in Leipzig[27] and the Centennial Hall in Wrocław.[28]

Music

In July 2022, composer James Newton Howard confirmed that he would return to score the film.[29]

The soundtrack for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes contains the film's version of songs such as "The Hanging Tree", "Pure as the Driven Snow", which was confirmed by film producer Nina Jacobson. Rachel Zegler performed the film's version of songs.[30] Music plays a more prominent role in the prequel given the songbird's Covey background. Producer Dave Cobb and the creative team drew heavily from Appalachian-country folk music, while early Dolly Parton and Sissy Spacek's Loretta Lynn informed Lucy Gray's sound. Zegler sang all of Lucy Gray's musical numbers live throughout filming.[31]

On September 16, 2023, "The Hanging Tree (Lucy Gray's version)", as performed by Zegler, was teased in a brief promotional video for the film, as confirmed by Jacobson.[32] "The Hanging Tree (Lucy Gray's version)" was released as a first single on October 20, 2023.[33] On November 1, 2023 , the official soundtrack The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Music From & Inspired By) was announced. featuring tracks performed by Zegler, as well as songs performed by established Americana and folk artists. The album's second single "Can't Catch Me Now", performed by Olivia Rodrigo, was released two days later on November 3,[34] while the instrumental piece "Mercy" by Howard was released as a single on November 7.[35]

Marketing

A teaser poster was released on March 25, 2023,[36] followed by the release of the first official trailer and a new poster at CinemaCon 2023 on April 27, 2023.[37][38] Seven character posters were released on September 6, 2023,[39] while a second trailer and new poster were released on September 20.[40] More character posters were released on October 28, 2023.[41]

On October 30, 2023, the film was given an interim agreement so that actors could promote it during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, since Lionsgate is not part of the AMPTP.[42]

Release

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes had its European premiere in Berlin, Germany on November 5, 2023,[43] its world premiere at the BFI IMAX in London on November 9, 2023,[44] and is scheduled to be released on November 17, 2023, by Lionsgate Films.[45]

Reception

Box office projection

In October, Deadline Hollywood projected The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes to earn $50 million on its opening weekend in North America.[46]

Critical response

Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 67% approval rating, based on 46 reviews, with an average score of 6.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "An outstanding cast and exciting story help make The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes a worthy return to Panem in spite of a rushed and somewhat frustrating ending."[5] The film holds a Metacritic score of 53 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[47] Zoe Guy of Vulture reported that "some critics view the 158-minute spectacle as an overwrought snoozefest, while others argue that Ballad is the most satisfying entry in the entire franchise".[48] NME's Alex Berry meanwhile characterised the inital critical response as "largely negative", noting that "the film has been criticised as lacking in the excitement and drama promised by the trailer, and not living up to the expectation following the first films".[49]

Writing for IndieWire, David Ehrlich named the film both the best young adult dystopian film and "by far" the strongest installment in The Hunger Games film series, describing it as "the rare prequel that manages to stand on its own two feet and still feel taller than the other stories it's ultimately meant to support".[50] Brian Truitt of USA Today praised it as "an enticing blend of dystopian action epic and musical drama that surpasses the previous films".[51] In a negative review for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw wrote that "the interest, dramatic momentum and energy" of the franchise "have frankly expired", concluding that "this movie finally ties itself into various knots to prefigure the later world of Katniss, but the time to end the Games came long ago".[52]

References

  1. ^ a b c Lionsgate Movies (April 27, 2023). "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) Official Trailer". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (12A)". BBFC. September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  3. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 26, 2023). "The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes Fires Up On Tracking With $50M Opening – Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Adekaiyero, Ayomikun (November 6, 2023). "Rachel Zegler channeled Katniss Everdeen at the premiere of 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.' Here are the 12 best red carpet photos". Insider. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 10, 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
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  8. ^ a b c D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 28, 2022). "'Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes': Six Join Prequel's Growing Ensemble Of Tributes & Mentors". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
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  25. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 15, 2022). "'The Hunger Games': Viola Davis Latest To Join Lionsgate Franchise's 'The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes'". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  26. ^ Eckardt, Stephanie (July 19, 2022). "Everything We Know About the Hunger Games Prequel". W. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  27. ^ Emma Schmidt (May 5, 2023), "Hollywooddreh am Völkerschlachtdenkmal", Leipziger Volkszeitung (in German), p. 1, archived from the original on May 5, 2023, retrieved May 5, 2023
  28. ^ Gersz, Ola (May 4, 2023). "W nowych "Igrzyskach śmierci" wystąpiła... Hala Stulecia z Wrocławia. Jest nie do poznania!" [The new 'Hunger Games' feature... the Wrocław Centennial Hall. It's unrecognizable!]. naTemat.pl (in Polish). Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  29. ^ says, Darren. "James Newton Howard to Score Francis Lawrence's 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' | Film Music Reporter". Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  30. ^ "https://twitter.com/ninajacobson/status/1704633998998389126". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved September 21, 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  31. ^ September 25, Jessica Wang; EDT, 2023 at 12:00 PM. "'Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' brings young Coriolanus Snow to life". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 26, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Jacobson, Nina [@ninajacobson] (September 16, 2023). "Yes !" (Tweet). Retrieved September 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ Zemler, Emily (October 20, 2023). "Hear Rachel Zegler Perform 'The Hanging Tree' for 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  34. ^ Aniftos, Rania (November 1, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Announces 'Can't Catch Me Now' Song Off Upcoming 'Hunger Games' Soundtrack". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  35. ^ "First Track from James Newton Howard's The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Score Released". Film Music Reporter. November 7, 2023. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  36. ^ Klein, Brennan (March 25, 2023). "Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Poster Updates Iconic Logo". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  37. ^ Rezwan, Fariba (April 27, 2023). "Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes Trailer: Zegler Is District 12 Tribute, 10th Hunger Games First Look". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
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  40. ^ Klein, Brennan (September 20, 2023). "Hunger Games: Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes Trailer Shows Original District Rebellion & New Arena Combat Footage". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  41. ^ Mishra, Shrishty (October 28, 2023). "Rachel Zegler Hungers for Freedom in New 'The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' Character Posters". Collider. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  42. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (October 30, 2023). "'Hunger Games' Prequel Nabs SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  43. ^ Adekaiyero, Ayomikun (November 6, 2023). "Rachel Zegler channeled Katniss Everdeen at the premiere of 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.' Here are the 12 best red carpet photos". Insider. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  44. ^ Bamigboye, Baz; Tartaglione, Nancy (November 9, 2023). "'The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes' World Premieres As Team Optimistic For More Sequels". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
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  48. ^ Guy, Zoe (November 10, 2023). "Does The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Sing?". Vulture. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
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  52. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (November 9, 2023). "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes review – back to an empty future". The Guardian. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
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