The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a movie set in The Hunger Games universe, but when does it take place in the timeline? When is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes set? Here’s what we know about The Hunger Games timeline!
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What Is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes About? The Hunger Games Prequel Explained
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows Coriolanus Snow and his life before he became the President of Panem.
In The Hunger Games prequel, Snow is a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games. He gets assigned to District 12’s tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, and forms a connection with her.
The official synopsis for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes reads:
"Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from impoverished District 12. But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy Gray’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake."
The Hunger Games Timeline: When Is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Set?
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes place 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games. It is set 10 years after the war that resulted in the first Hunger Games.
We will be seeing younger versions of some characters from The Hunger Games, such as Coriolanus Snow and Tigris Snow.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes place before Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are born, so it’s unlikely that we will be getting cameos from the main characters in the original films.
And just in case you haven’t seen the original Hunger Games films yet, it is possible to watch The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes first since it is a prequel.
“It’s completely different stylistically, in terms of design, character, and point of view. To be able to show a different side of Panem at a different time in its history has been really exciting,” said producer Nina Jacobson in an interview with Vanity Fair.
Director Francis Lawrence also shared with Vanity Fair, "It’s this kind of love story set in a different kind of a world in a different time... We also get to remake District 12, remake all of the Capitol, and a brand-new arena."
However, it is best to watch the films starring Jennifer Lawrence first to know more about the world of The Hunger Games. We might also be getting some Hunger Games references in the prequel.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be released in theaters on November 17, 2023. You can watch the trailer for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes below:
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