Rachel Zegler To Lead ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel

Entertainment

| LAST UPDATE 06/01/2022

By Peral Simons
Rachel Zegler, Hunger Games
Frazer Harrison via Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The good news from the Lionsgate Hollywood Studio just keeps on coming! While most of us are still reeling from the update that there will be a new Hunger Games prequel movie, the studio responsible for it has just gone and announced its main star: West Side Story actress Rachel Zegler will play District 12's hero at the 10th annual Hunger Games - long before anyone knew who Katniss Everdeen was...

For anyone who missed the news, Lionsgate announced in April that they would be adapting Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games Prequel novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesinto a big-screen film. With many fans divided over the decision to bring back the franchise, the stakes are high for the studio, which is desperate to do the book justice and please the audience. The official synopsis reads, "In this return to The Hunger Games, years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow sees a chance for a change in fortunes when he is chosen to be a mentor to Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from impoverished District 12."

Katniss Everdeen, Hunger Games
Murray Close/Color Force/Lionsgate/Kobal via Shutterstock
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On Tuesday, producer Nina Jacobson officially announced the Zegler casting news. "Our casting team, Deb Zane and Dylan Jury, spearheaded an exhaustive search, reading hundreds of actors in search of our perfect Lucy Gray. That search ended when Rachel Zegler blew the roof off with her depth and breadth of talent as an actor, singer, and performer. Rachel is utterly compelling; just like Lucy Gray, her voice and charisma command the stage while her inner strength and humanity transform those around her."

What does Rachel have to say on the matter? Well, she's keeping things short and cryptic. Moments after the official announcement, she tweeted, "listen up….. can y'all grow restfully? Are you becoming an individual resting decisively?" Although most of us were dumbfounded by the tweet, the die-hard Hunger Games fans got to work and uncovered its true meaning. They noticed that the first letter of each word reads Lucy Gray Baird! What other tricks does Rachel/Lucy have up her sleeve? We can't wait to see. The movie will be in theatres everywhere on November 17, 2023. Until then, stay tuned...

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