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Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterLet the 10th Hunger Games begin!Lionsgate is teasing a first look at “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” a prequel story set in the bleak world of Panem. The movie, which takes place long before the odds were in Katniss Everdeen’s favor in the popular “Hunger Games” franchise, centers on Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow (the eventual tyrannical ruler of the dystopian nation) and Rachel Zegler as tribute Lucy Gray Baird.The new photo gives a glimpse at the 18-year-old Snow, who is chosen to mentor Baird during the 10th Hunger Games — the highly publicized event in which teenagers are chosen via lottery to fight to the death.

UPDATED with latest: At its Max streaming event in April 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed a new era is coming for Harry Potter fans. The company announced a TV series based on all seven books about the boy wizard written by J.K. Rowling. See below for the most current answers to the most important questions about the project.

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Caroline Brew editor If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Enter the arena again when “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” arrives on premium video on demand and premium electronic sell-through on Dec. 19 from Lionsgate.

The book The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, written by Suzanne Collins, has been adapted for the screen by director Francis Lawrence, alongside screenwriters Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt. The film delves into the chillingly formative years of Panem, a society not yet inured to the brutality of its central spectacle. This prequel, starkly contrasting its YA predecessors, morphs into a harrowing adult political thriller, unraveling the genesis of the Hunger Games with a disturbingly poignant lens — that is, when it can get out of its own way.

Thania Garcia Rachel Zegler‘s vocals ring through “The Hanging Tree,” the first song to be released as part of the upcoming “Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” The orchestral title, out today via Geffen Records, first appeared as the second single from the soundtrack for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” in 2014. Jennifer Lawrence, who played Katniss Everdeen, offered her vocals for the track that was originally written by Suzanne Collins and composed by Howard, Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz from the band the Lumineers.

Charna Flam Happy Hunger Games! Lionsgate has dropped the second trailer for “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Based on Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel of the same name, the upcoming film follows a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), who strives to revive his family’s legacy. In the midst of his efforts, he is tasked with mentoring District 12’s tribute and Panem’s favorite, Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). Coriolanus works with Lucy to keep her alive in the Hunger Games, and he begins to battle between good and evil.

Jennifer Lawrence is addressing rumors she filmed a cameo for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

EXCLUSIVE: The BBC is delving into the history of Soho’s criminal underworld for its next big-budget drama series.

Lionsgate has released a first look image for The Hunger Games: Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes. The film is a prequel to the wildly successful Hunger Games franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence. Susan Collins who wrote the original Hunger Games novels decided to follow it up with a prequel that takes place 64 years before Katniss Everdeen became a district 12 tribute.

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” has released its official first look image of its young stars Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth as Lucy Gray Baird and the young Coriolanus Snow.Based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, the plot to this highly anticipated prequel film will follow Snow pre-tyranny. As an 18-year-old, he is a top student at the elite Panem’s Academy, selected to train Lucy, a District 12 tribute, who becomes his mentee.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterViola Davis is headed to Panem as the head gamemaker in “The Hunger Games” prequel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”The Lionsgate movie is based on the 2020 book of the same name, which takes place decades before the adventures of Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games.” The prequel story is focused on 18-year-old Snow, who eventually becomes the tyrannical leader of the dystopia known as Panem. In “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” he’s chosen to be mentor during the 10th Hunger Games, a televised event in which teenagers are chosen via lottery to fight to the death.Davis, who is playing Volumnia Gaul, the mastermind of the diabolical teen death-match, will star opposite Tom Blyth as young Coriolanus Snow, Rachel Zegler as tribute Lucy Gray Baird, Hunter Schafer as Snow’s cousin and confidante Tigris Snow and Peter Dinklage as Academy dean Casca Highbottom.

Viola Davis (The Woman King) is the latest addition to the cast of Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The Oscar winner has been tapped for the role of Head Gamemaker Volumnia Gaul, joining an ensemble led by Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler.

With “Thirteen Lives,” Ron Howard delivers his cinematic interpretation of the story of the stranded Thai soccer team that commanded the world’s attention in the early summer of 2018. Howard’s film joins other projects — including the 2021 National Geographic documentary “The Rescue” and Netflix’s upcoming limited series “Thai Cave Rescue” — that covered the incredible true story of the skilled divers that rescued the team. The screenplay comes from “Unbroken” and “Everest” screenwriter William Nicholson. Producers include P.J.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterA Westeros legend is making his way to Panem. “Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage has been cast as Casca Highbottom in “The Hunger Games” prequel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”Dinklage will star opposite Tom Blyth as young Coriolanus Snow, Rachel Zegler as tribute Lucy Gray Baird and Hunter Schafer as Tigris Snow.“With production underway, we couldn’t be more excited about the way this cast has come together and thrilled to be welcoming Peter Dinklage to Panem,” Nathan Kahane, president of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, said in a statement.

which TheWrap first reported.The prequel film in the franchise, which has grossed more than $3 billion globally, is based on the bestselling novel by Suzanne Collins and is slated to hit theaters on Nov. 17, 2023.Francis Lawrence returns to the series, having directed the sequels “Catching Fire” and both parts of “Mockingjay.”Collins, Tim Palen and Jim Miller will serve as executive producers on the new project.

which the Wrap first reported.The prequel film in the franchise, which has grossed over $3 billion globally, is based on the bestselling novel by Suzanne Collins and is slated to hit theaters on Nov. 17, 2023.Francis Lawrence returns to the series, having directed the sequels “Catching Fire” and both parts of “Mockingjay.”Collins, Tim Palen and Jim Miller will serve as executive producers on the new project.

Jason Schwartzman (Asteroid City) is the latest addition to the cast of Lionsgate’s Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. He joins an ensemble led by Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler which also includes Josh Andrés Rivera, Hunter Schafer, Jerome Lance, Ashley Liao, Knox Gibson, Mackenzie Lansing, Aamer Husain, Nick Benson, Laurel Marsden, Lilly Cooper, Luna Steeples and Hiroki Berrecloth, as previously announced.

which the Wrap first reported.The prequel film in the franchise, which has grossed over $3 billion globally, is based on the best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins and is slated to hit theaters on Nov. 17, 2023.Francis Lawrence returns to the series, having directed the sequels “Catching Fire” and both parts of “Mockingjay.”Collins, Tim Palen, and Jim Miller will serve as executive producers on the new project.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and Media“Euphoria” star Hunter Schafer has joined the cast of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”She will appear opposite Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler in the studio’s attempt to recapture that old Panem magic. Schafer will play Tigris Snow, the cousin and confidante of Coriolanus Snow (Blyth), who, “Hunger Games” fans know, will one day mature into the autocratic ruler of the dystopian world of the books and films, a leader who has just a dollop of psychopathy to go along with his suave demeanor.“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” debuts in theaters worldwide on November 17, 2023.

Tom Blyth is playing the role of Coriolanus Snow. Rivera also joins his fellow “West Side Story” alum Rachel Zegler who is set to play Lucy Gray Baird in the film.The prequel film in the franchise that has grossed over $3 billion globally is based on the best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins and slated to hit theaters on November 17, 2023.Lawrence returns to the series having directed the sequels “Catching Fire” and both parts of “Mockingjay.”Collins, Tim Palen, and Jim Miller will serve as executive producers on the new project.

be out Nov. 17, 2023.

Lionsgate is starting its engines for The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes, the highly anticipated Hunger Games prequel coming November 17, 2023.

Tom Blyth, who stars in Epix’s Western series Billy the Kid, has been cast as the young Coriolanus Snow The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Lionsgate’s upcoming adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ latest installment in her bestselling YA series.

Could Robert Eggers‘ “The Northman” release have sparked renewed interest in revisiting “Hamlet”? The Viking epic is based on the original Scandinavian tale that directly influenced Williams Shakespeare’s beloved story of revenge and murder. Now, a new modern film version of “Hamlet” is on the horizon from Oscar-winners Riz Ahmed and Aneil Karia.

Riz Ahmed is set to lead a modern adaptation of Hamlet.The actor will be teaming up with Aneil Karia, his collaborator on the Oscar-winning The Long Goodbye, for the new film.Ahmed will play the titular role and will see Hamlet “move through London’s elite circles and attend exuberant parties, going to violent lengths to avenge his father and prove his uncle guilty” according to Deadline.Karia will direct the film, from a script by Macbeth writer Michael Lesslie. Morfydd Clark (Saint Maud) has been cast as Ophelia, while Joe Alwyn (Conversations With Friends) will play Laertes.“This is a Hamlet about race, privilege, corruption – and whether setting things right means setting fire to the entire old order,” Ahmed and Karia said in a statement obtained by the publication.“This Hamlet belongs to a wealthy British Indian family who buy their way up the English establishment at great personal cost.

Naman Ramachandran Riz Ahmed and Aneil Karia are teaming again for a modern, London-set British Indian adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”The pair won the 2022 best live action short film Oscar for “The Long Goodbye,” which they co-wrote, Ahmed starred in and Karia directed. WME Independent will launch international sales at the Cannes Film Market, while co-representing North American rights with CAA.

EXCLUSIVE: On the heels of their Oscar win for The Long Goodbye, Sound Of Metal and Rogue One actor Riz Ahmed and Surge director Aneil Karia are confirmed for a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic Hamlet, which is being launched by WME Independent at the Cannes market.

Lionsgate announced at the end of their CinemaCon session today that the Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will finally hit theaters on Nov. 17, 2023.

The prequel, titled “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” is based on the novel of the same name written by series creator Suzanne Collins will follow Coriolanus Snow, the future tyrannical leader of the nation of Panem, when he was just 18 years old. As one of the top students of Panem’s Academy, which is a school for the country’s elite, Snow is selected as a mentor for Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute selected to compete in the Hunger Games for District 12, the home of Snow’s future adversary Katniss Everdeen.

EXCLUSIVE: Hulu is doubling down on Margaret Atwood adaptations with a TV version of her book Maddaddam in the works.

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Peter White Television EditorThe reboot of Battlestar Galactica is one of Peacock’s big drama bets and the NBCU streamer’s originals chief says that the sci-fi drama is “progressing nicely.”Bill McGoldrick, President of Original Content at NBCU Entertainment Networks and Direct-to-Consumer, told Deadline that the company is hot on the project, which is being led by Little Drummer Girl showrunner Michael Lesslie.“I have seen an outline that we’re excited about,” he said.” “It’s obviously a big

Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, FilmEXCLUSIVE: Lily James is set to star in The Paris Trap, a thriller that Pablo Trapero will direct for Studiocanal. The film will be presented to buyers during the virtual Cannes Market and it will shoot in Paris early next year.James is the star of Cinderella and Baby Driver, and Trapero the acclaimed Argentinian director of El Clan, which won the Golden Lion at Venice.