TheHunger Gamesfranchise made its long-awaited return last year with the release ofThe Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which served as a prequel to the original set of films. Now it looks like fans can re-experience it all over again, as Lionsgate has announced the movie’s official streaming release date. The movie will make its streaming debut exclusively on the official STARZ app beginning on May 14 at 9pm ET.
Based on the prequel novel of the same name,The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakescenters on a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), a young mentor who aims to make a name for himself in a post-rebellion Panem. Serving as a mentor in the 10th annual Hunger Games, he soon finds himself paired with Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) of District 12, where the two must unite through stage presence and political wittiness in a race against time to ultimately reveal who is a songbird and who is a snake.
Francis Lawrence, who previously helmed the previous three installments of the franchise, directs the movie, with its screenplay written byMichael LesslieandMichael Arndt. Blyth and Zegler star in the film alongsideJosh Andrés Rivera,Viola Davis,Peter Dinklage,JasonSchwartzman,Hunter Schafer,Fionnula Flanagan, andBurn Gorman.Nina Jacobson,Brad Simpson, and Lawrence serve as producers of the project.
Over a Decade Later, ‘The Hunger Games’ Franchise Still Resonates With Audiences
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakesdebuted in theaters last November to positive reception from fans, with praise directed at its performances, set design, and exciting story, earning a 64% critical score onRotten Tomatoesalongside an 89% audience rating. The movie would go on tobecome a box office hit, grossing over $338 million against a budget of $100 million. An impressive feat considering the crowded and competitive holiday movie season in a time when the dystopianyoung adult genredoesn’t have the same pull as it did 10 years ago. With the movie showcasing that theHunger Gamesfranchise still resonates with audiences after all this time, perhaps there’s still an appetite for the genre in the future. With no other books to adapt, there’s no guarantee that fans can expect any more follow-up films, but only time will truly tell if Lionsgate orSuzanne Collinshave more in store.
Fans can streamThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakesexclusively on STARZ on May 14.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesfollows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) - the last hope for the once-proud Snow family - who is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12 for the 10th Hunger Games. Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will become a songbird or a snake.
