‘The Hunger Games’ Prequel Unveils New Hauntingly Beautiful Songs

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes — the upcoming prequel to the beloved Hunger Games franchise — is coming soon in Singapore. It has also released new songs from its official soundtrack. 

‘Hunger Games’ fans, the odds are in your favour. (Photo from: @thehungergames)

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes soundtrack

During The Hunger Games trilogy era, Taylor Swift wrote a comforting ballad for the soundtrack titled Safe and Sound with The Civil Wars and producer T-Bone Burnett. Now, it's Olivia Rodrigo's turn to work on this highly anticipated prequel's soundtrack. She has written Can’t Catch Me Now with producer Daniel Nigro, and fans are loving how the haunting lyrics fit the story perfectly.

Rachel Zegler, who plays the main female character in the prequel, is also part of the soundtrack. She sings her own captivating version of The Hanging Tree which was sung in the past by Jennifer Lawrence.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes: first trailer, cast, plot

When the first trailer was released, we got all the feels and reminisced about the first time we got sucked into the dystopic world of Panem. The new film will be a standalone one, and it will be directed by Francis Lawrence who was also in charge of the previous installments. It’s based on the 2020 novel of the same title by Suzanne Collins which centres on the villain origin story of Coriolanus Snow and takes us to the 10th Hunger Games — 65 years before Katniss Everdeen’s era.

Tom Blyth (known for the 2021 film Benediction) will take on the role of Snow while Rachel Zegler (known for winning an Oscar for the 2021 film West Side Story) will play the role of Lucy Gray Baird of District 12. Snow reluctantly becomes Lucy’s mentor but comes to realise that he can team up with her to turn the odds in their favour.

Aside from the two, Hunter Schafer will portray the young Tigris, the cousin of Snow who eventually helps Katniss in the future. Peter Dinklage will take on the role of Casca Highbottom, the co-creator of the Hunger Games while Viola Davis will take on the mantle of the villainous head game maker Dr. Volumnia Gaul.

The trailer ends with the chilling “It’s the things we love most that destroy us” — a foreboding statement from the older Snow to Katniss — and leaves us hungry for more.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes: release date in Singapore

The new film will have its world premiere on 9 November. You can catch it in theatres in Singapore on 16 November.

(Cover photo from: @thehungergames)

This article was first published on 28 April 2023. Last updated: 6 November 2023.