Lionsgate has set a November 2023 premiere date for The Hunger Games' prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. From 2012 to 2015, the Hunger Games franchise kicked off a new wave of YA adaptations, yet always stood as the very best of them all. The 4-film series, which was based on author Suzanne Collins' trilogy, grossed an impressive $2.97 billion worldwide and earned generally positive reviews all around. Jennifer Lawrence led the franchise as heroine Katniss Everdeen, while supporting stars included Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Sam Claflin, and Woody Harrelson.
Collins initially wrote only 3 novels, but she later opted to expand the world of Panem with a prequel novel. Released in 2020, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes revolves around a younger Coriolanus Snow (played by Donald Sutherland in the films), the primary villain of The Hunger Games. Even before the book hit shelves, Lionsgate announced it was in development on a film adaptation. Francis Lawrence, the director behind all franchise installments save for the first Hunger Games, returns for this film.
During its CinemaCon presentation, Lionsgate (via Deadline) announced The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is moving forward. While it remains without a cast, it does have a release date: November 17, 2023. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will follow the same plot as the book, which sees 18-year-old Snow mentor a District 12 tribute in the 10th Hunger Games.
It should be noted that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will release within the same timeframe that much of the Hunger Games franchise did. Those movies found great success during the Thanksgiving holiday, and Lionsgate clearly hopes to replicate that magic for their prequel. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is currently set to debut opposite Trolls 3 and John Krasinski's If. In terms of target audiences, it so far looks like the Hunger Games movie will have the advantage of appealing to different demographics than the other films, so it could stand a good chance at winning the holiday box office.
With the late 2023 date set, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will likely be looking to begin production sometime this year. That falls in line with previous reports that said the movie would kick off filming in 2022, though it isn't yet clear how close things are to beginning. Lionsgate didn't give any potential start date, and while casting might be underway, no names have been announced. Still, Lionsgate is certainly betting big on this Hunger Games prequel, so expect the project to really pick up steam now. The Hunger Games is one of the studio's most successful franchises, and in a time where known IP reigns, this prequel is vital to Lionsgate's future. May the odds be ever in its favor. -Screen Rant
