Key Essentials to Familiarize Yourself with Before Watching The Hunger Games Prequel

Article Key Points

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the original trilogy, providing fans a new perspective on the character of Coriolanus Snow.

Set during the tenth annual Hunger Games, this story delves into the consequences of the Panem civil war on the characters and the origins of crucial components such as jabberjays. Although the Hunger Games are referenced in the title and have a role in the narrative, only a third of the book takes place during the games themselves, with a predominant focus on other narrative elements and District 12.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the original Hunger Games trilogy, with notable differences between the two, particularly regarding the significance of Panem's lore and history. For fans who haven't read the books, it is crucial to know certain details prior to watching the movie. This article aims to provide the most relevant historical information surrounding The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, allowing fans to gain proper context before viewing.

This article contains light spoilers for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Coriolanus Snow

Main Character

Coriolanus Snow, the main character in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, is well-known to fans of the original trilogy as a cold-hearted villain ruling over Panem, determined to bring down Katniss Everdeen. However, in this prequel, Snow is depicted as a younger man, offering readers the opportunity to explore a different side of him before he transforms into the feared tyrant.

The War

Panem Civil War

The Panem civil war is frequently referenced in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, centrally exploring the thoughts and experiences of Coriolanus Snow. It is imperative for fans to grasp the extent to which the war devastated the lives of numerous Panem residents.

The civil war between the rebels from the districts and the Capitol caused significant devastation. This conflict, along with its aftermath, led to a series of important events in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes's storyline. These events include the demise of Coriolanus's father, the establishment of The Hunger Games, and the invention of jabberjays. The profound historical impact of this conflict inflicted severe emotional wounds on various characters in the narrative, but most significantly, it shaped Snow's mindset.

Setting

Decades Prior To The First Hunger Games Book & Movie

The Hunger Games sequel is set 64 years prior to the initial film in the trilogy. The narrative begins with the Reaping for The Hunger Games, similar to the original book. However, this time, fans will have the opportunity to witness it from a unique perspective: that of the Gamemakers and the spectators in the Capitol.

In this alternate reality, the inhabitants of the Capitol appear less enthusiastic about the game due to the absence of compelling reasons to engage in watching it and following the progress of the Tributes.

Tenth Annual Hunger Games

Important Event

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set during the tenth annual Hunger Games, which occurs before the events of the original trilogy. It should be noted that Katniss participated in both the 74th and 75th Hunger Games.

The tenth Hunger Games held significant importance as it introduced numerous gimmicks that would continue to be used for the next 65 years, offering the Capitol's spectators a glimpse into these innovations. Initially, there were no bets or sponsors involved in The Hunger Games, but this changed dramatically and contributed to a surge in popularity. The Gamemakers and Academy students in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes were instrumental in implementing pivotal changes that endured throughout the subsequent Hunger Games.

What to Expect

Beyond The Hunger Games

Although the movie's title includes The Hunger Games and they play a significant role in driving the main events of the story, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes delves beyond the actual Hunger Games.

District 12

A Main Location

The characters Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne, and Haymitch Abernathy resided in District 12, which is featured once again in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Known for its poverty, District 12 primarily consists of coal miners. Unlike other districts where citizens are trained to compete in The Hunger Games, this is not the case in District 12. In Catching Fire, District 12 only had three victors for the Quarter Quell: Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is scheduled to hit theaters on November 17, 2023.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of The Hunger Games series, I am eagerly anticipating the release of the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. This prequel offers a unique opportunity to explore the untold story of Coriolanus Snow, the villainous president of Panem in the original trilogy. Set during the tenth annual Hunger Games, this prequel delves into the consequences of the Panem civil war on the characters and the origins of crucial components such as jabberjays. Although the Hunger Games are referenced in the title and have a role in the narrative, only a third of the book takes place during the games themselves, with a predominant focus on other narrative elements and District 12.

One of the key aspects I am looking forward to in this prequel is the exploration of Coriolanus Snow's character. In the original trilogy, Snow is portrayed as a cold-hearted villain ruling over Panem, determined to bring down Katniss Everdeen. However, in this prequel, Snow is depicted as a younger man, offering readers the opportunity to explore a different side of him before he transforms into the feared tyrant. It will be fascinating to see how the events of the prequel shape Snow's character and lead him to become the ruthless leader we encounter in the original trilogy.