The Hunger Games prequel has cast Viola Davis as Dr. Volumnia Gaul, the lead game maker of the 10th annual game of young people hunting one another down, which was reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will star Tom Blyth (Billy the Kid) as a young Coriolanus Snow and Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) as Lucy Gray Baird, the tribute for District 12. It will also star Peter Dinklage, Josh Andrés Rivera (West Side Story), Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), Jason Schwartzman (Fargo), and Ashley Liao (Fuller House).
The director of the three original films led by Jennifer Lawrence, Francis Lawrence (not related), will return to helm the Hunger Games prequel. Based on the Suzanne Collins novel and written by Michael Arndt (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Michael Lesslie (Assassin’s Creed), the film will go back in time to see life for Coriolanus Snow before becoming the tyrant he grows up to become. After Lucy defiantly sings during the reaping ceremony, he unites with her as he thinks their interests might align. Viola Davis fits in with her villainous Dr. Gaul, who will help shape Coriolanus into the man he is destined to be.
Viola Davis cast in Hunger Games Prequel
Viola Davis is joining a franchise that has grossed $2.9 billion worldwide and has soared plenty of young actors into superstars like Jennifer Lawrence. Each was an adaption of Collins’ series, with the last two being split into a two-parter that ended in 2015 when Mockingjay – Part 2 was released.
The Hunger Games prequel will be in line as Viola Davis continues her spree of blockbusters. On September 16, she will lead The Woman King with John Boyega. She will make her fourth appearance as Amanda Waller in Black Adam with Dwayne Johnson on October 21.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes releases on November 17, 2023.