Exclusive Sneak Peek: The Intense 'Bloodbath' Scene Unleashed in Hunger Games Prequel

Summary

Director Francis Lawrence teases an intense and brutal "bloodbath" sequence in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Rachel Zegler, portraying Lucy Gray Baird, filmed the games sequence shortly after wrapping up her work on Snow White and ended up with bruises.

The prequel's introduction to the 10th Hunger Games will be tasked with matching the intense openings of its predecessors, potentially facing limitations on the depiction of blood to maintain its anticipated PG-13 rating.

The director of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has given a glimpse of the intense "bloodbath" sequence. Set decades before the main series, the film tells the story of Lucy Gray Baird, a girl from District 12 who forms a relationship with Coriolanus, later known as President Snow, during the 10th Hunger Games. Francis Lawrence, who directed the last three films in The Hunger Games franchise, is directing The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. In an interview with Empire, Lawrence revealed that the "opening of the games" scene, known as the "bloodbath," was a highly anticipated and intense moment on set. It was particularly challenging for Rachel Zegler, who had to film this sequence just days after finishing another project.

How Brutal and Bloody Will The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Get?

The initiation of the competitions, which we refer to as 'the bloodbath,' was precisely what she had to immediately immerse herself in. Despite being left with bruises on a regular basis, she drew upon her inherent fighter qualities.

Lawrence's portrayal of the games in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has generated significant curiosity. The director alludes to a highly intense action sequence, as Zegler reportedly endured physical injuries during the shooting days. With Zegler's impressive display of combat skills and the label of a "bloodbath" for the opening of the 10th Hunger Games, it is anticipated to be one of the most merciless ones yet.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes faces a daunting task of living up to the gripping openings of the previous games. Catching Fire set the bar high with its captivating sectioned-off dial cornucopia setup. After his success with The Hunger Games series, Lawrence must deliver exceptional work to elevate The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to a level of heightened drama.

It remains curious to see the extent of the "bloodbath" in this prequel. While The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has yet to receive an official MPA rating, the previous The Hunger Games films were all rated PG-13, indicating that the prequel will likely have the same rating. This implies that the opening of the 10th Hunger Games will be limited in depicting explicit bloodshed. Nevertheless, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes can still suggest a considerable amount of violence without crossing into an R rating.

Source: Empire