When the Games need tributes, they find them fast. Just last month, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes found its young Coriolanus Snow—the man who will grow up to be Panem’s nasty president—in actor Tom Blyth. And since then, the Hunger Games prequel has added more than a dozen actors to its lineup of tributes and mentors, including Euphoria‘s Hunter Schafer and West Side Story‘s Rachel Zegler (pictured above).
Who will enter the arena? Let’s see.
According to Deadline, Schafer is playing Tigris Snow, cousin to Coriolanus, “who advises him in everything – from his role as mentor to the core of his moral compass.” Considering adult Coriolanus doesn’t seem to have a functioning moral compass, it may be safe to assume that Schafer’s character isn’t exactly a do-gooder.
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Zegler stars as Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12 (yes, Katniss’s district) who has Coriolanus as her mentor. Deadline says, “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.”
Josh Andrés Rivera, who was in West Side Story with Zegler, plays Sejanus Plinth, described as “a close friend of young Coriolanus Snow, and the mentor to a tribute from District 2.”
That District 2 tribute, Marcus, is played by Jerome Lance, who will be in the Games with Knox Gibson as Bobbin (District 8); Mackenzie Lansing (Mare of Easttown) as Coral (District 4); Nick Benson as Jessup, the second tribute from District 12; Luna Steeples as Dill (District 11); and Hiroki Berrecloth as Treech (District 7).
Outside the arena, Ashley Liao (Physical) plays District 11 mentor Clemensia Dovecote, who is another close friend of young Mr. Snow. She’s joined by fellow District 11 mentor Felix Ravinstill, played by Aamer Husain. District 10’s mentor, Arachne Crane, is played by Lily Maria Cooper (The Witcher), and Laurel Marsden (Ms. Marvel‘s Zoe) is Mayfair Lipp, who puts Lucy Gray Baird into contention for the Games.
Those of you who like to keep track of numbers will note that as yet, we have no representatives from the wealthy District 1.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes place during the 10th Hunger Games. Francis Lawrence (Catching Fire, Mockingjay) returns as director; the screenplay has had a few cooks in the kitchen, but Michael Lesslie (Assassin’s Creed) wrote the latest draft, based on a previous draft by Michael Arndt and author Suzanne Collins. It’s in theaters November 17, 2023.
