The Ballad of the Nightingale and the Serpent: 12 things to know about the Hunger Game prequel

It’s time to return to Panem. It arrives in Italian cinemas, two days earlier than the domestic release, The Hunger Games: The Rime of the Nightingale and the Serpent. Prequel/spin-off that marks the return of the saga battle royale based on the YA novels by Suzanne Collins and whose global earnings are close to 3 billion dollars. Directed once again by Francis Lawrence, who also shot two other chapters of the series, the new film takes us 64 years before the games won by Katniss and Peeta in the four blockbusters with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson (currently in theaters in the horror-event Five Nights at Freddy’s).

The Rime of the Nightingale and the Serpent puts the spotlight on 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (played by the rising star Tom Blyth) before becoming the tyrannical president in the first films. Fans of Hunger Games they will discover the origins of the villain and his rise to power in Donald Sutherland’s very white beard. In post-war Capitol City, Coriolanus Snow is the scion of a fallen family. The opportunity for redemption presents itself when he is chosen as the mentor of Lucy Gray Baird (who has the face and sweet voice of Rachel Zegler), tribute for the tenths Hunger Games. Through their collaboration in the ruthless games, an unexpected love story will be born. The cast also includes Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), Peter Dinklage (game of Thrones), Jason Schwartzman and the EGOT Award Viola Davis. There will be no shortage of references to the mother trilogy, to the delight of fans. Before returning to District 12, twelve curiosities about the prequel to Hunger Game.

1

It is the first Hunger Games to have more than two main protagonists in the poster.

2

It is the most raw, violent and disturbing chapter of the saga. For this reason it is labeled PG-13: this is not surprising, given that the opening of the games is called “the bloodbath”.

3

With its 156 minutes of duration, The Rime of the Nightingale and the Serpent it is the longest film in the franchise. Thus, he breaks the record held by The Hunger Games: Catching Firethe second title of the 146-minute saga.

4

28-year-old British native of Birmingham Tom Blyth was chosen over actor Cody Fern and model Lucky Blue Smith for the role of the titular villain Coriolanus Snow.

5

«snow-white» Rachel Zegler took the role of Lucy Gray Bird from New Zealander Thomasin McKenzie.

6

Zegler was 7 years old when Zegler’s first novel was published Hunger Games.

7

Director Francis Lawrence is keen to point out that Tom Blyth’s Coriolanus Snow will be very different from the villain brought to success by Donald Sutherland, because he has yet to become the sociopathic version overthrown from power by Katniss Everdeen.

8

Hunter Schafer plays cousin Tigris Snow. The transgender star of Euphoria she was preferred for the role to her colleague Sydney Sweeney (but also to Anya Taylor-Joy and Florence Pugh).

9

The director cast Viola Davis in the role of the evil Doctor Gaul, Chief Strategist of the 10th Hunger Gamesafter seeing one of his memes online: «It was a Photoshopped still from The Help and he had this sort of sinister grin…».

10

Costume designer Trish Summerville made 10 versions of Lucy Gray’s corset dress, for all the acrobatics and gradual degradation. The woman behind the glamor of Hunger Game created the rainbow skirt inspired by Jennifer Lawrence’s white tulle dress The fire girl.

11

The TVs where they are followed Hunger Game they have that retro design influenced by the monitors of Runway One: the province of the fictional state of Oceania, created by George Orwell in the dystopian novel 1984 (published in 1949).

12

The Rime of the Nightingale and the Serpent it is the third most expensive film in the saga (100 million dollars budget) after The song of revolt (250 million budget divided into two parts) e The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (130 million). The cornerstone of the franchise cost $78 million.