A week following the announcement of the first round of tributes and mentors that will be appearing inThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Lionsgate has announced another collection of starts that will be starring in the upcomingHunger Gamesprequel film. The five new actors that have joined the cast areNick Benson,Laurel Marsden,Lilly Cooper,Luna Steeples, andHiroki Berrecloth. This group will star oppositeTom Blythas a younger version of Coriolanus Snow andRachel Zeglerwho plays Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from the impoverished District 12.
Benson will play Jessup, a fellow tribute from District 12 alongside Zegler’s Lucy Gray Baird. Benson appeared in Netflix’sBoo, Bitchand Disney+’sBig Shotsince his graduation. Marsden will play Mayfair Lipp, who is the person who places Lucy Gray’s name into contention for the tenth Hunger Games. Marsden plays a starring role in the recently released Disney+ series,Ms. Marvelas Zoe Zimmer. She has previously starred alongsideSophie TurnerandCorey Hawkinsin Quibi’sSurviveand also recently completed production onAll Fun and GamesoppositeAsa ButterfieldandNatalia Dyer.
Cooper will play Arachne Crane, mentor to a tribute from District 10. Credits include the role of Murta inThe Witcherseason 1 and 2. Steeples will play Dill, a tribute from District 11. Steeples currently only has one credit to her name, which was in 2017 in the seriesOverdue. Berrecloth will play Treech, tribute from District 7. His previous credits include BBC’sRed Roseand the short filmsBlack Lichen,The Intruder, andWhy Do You Look at Me with Those Eyes?.
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This announcement comes a week after therevealof the first slate of actors that would be taking the roles of mentors and tributes in the upcoming prequel. These cast members includeJerome Lanceas Marcus,Ashley Liaoas Clemensia Dovecote,Knox Gibsonas Bobbin,Mackenzie Lansingas Coral, andAamer Husainas Felix Ravinstill. The upcoming prequel film takes place years before the original story and follows an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow before he became the tyrannical ruler of Panem.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakeswill be directed byFrancis Lawrence, who previously directed the franchise’sCatching Fire,Mockingjay Part One, andMockingjay Part Two. The latest draft of the screenplay is written byMichael Lesslie, building off the work ofThe Hunger Gamesoriginal authorSuzanne Collinsand Oscar-winning screenwriterMichael Arndt, who penned a previous draft of the film. Franchise producerNina Jacobsonreturns for the film alongside her producing partnerBrad Simpson, with Lawrence also serving as a producer. Collins,Tim Palen, andJim Millerwill serve as executive producers withMeredith WieckandScott O’Brienoverseeing on behalf of Lionsgate.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakespremieres in theaters worldwide on June 29, 2025. You can read the official description for the upcoming prequel to the blockbuster franchise down below:
Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Blyth) 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 (Zegler), the girl 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’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake.
