‘Hunger Games’ prequel ‘Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ is slated to release on November 17, 2023, as per a teaser clip shown at the CinemaCon, a Hollywood film festival. 

Lionsgate, the entertainment company behind the movies, however, didn’t show any footage from the upcoming film, which is still in production. Neither did it introduce any of the cast members. 

However, the clip showed shots of icy tree branches and an eye-catching gold, with the text “The world will discover… who is a songbird… and who is a snake”, Variety reported. 

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The prequel is set decades ahead of the adventures undertaken by Katniss Everdeen in the main film series. The upcoming film centres on Coriolanus Snow, as we see him at a young age, much before he becomes the president of Panem, infamous for his tyranny. 

In ‘Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ we see Snow as an 18-year-old, who isn’t as dangerous. He acts as a mentor to Lucy Gray Baird, who’s the girl tribute from the poverty-stricken District 12. The events take place during the 10th Hunger Games, while Everdeen only makes an appearance in the 74th iteration of the tournament. 

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The first trilogy is based on Suzanne Collins’ novels and catapulted Jennifer Lawrence to stardom. The upcoming film is also based on Collins’ 2020 prequel story. 

In the original ‘Hunger Games’ movies, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to participate in the tournament, which is a televised event where teenagers have to survive a deadly environment and each other, to win. The victory gains Katniss Everdeen some popularity, which she then uses to consolidate a revolutionary movement against Snow and his oppression.

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Francis Lawrence returns to direct the movie, while Michael Arndt, known for his work on ‘Catching Fire’ – part of the trilogy – is back to write the new screenplay.