Everything’s coming up roses for West Side Story actress Rachel Zegler. Or maybe that’s “primroses”? The sought-after actress has just landed the role of Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes.
Zegler has been fueling speculation about the casting herself, tweeting this message in which the first letter of every word spells out her character’s name…
https://t.co/CCjQ7DIncN pic.twitter.com/EXKXqnzLne
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) May 31, 2022
The film is an adaptation of author Suzanne Collins’ novel, which takes place decades before there was a Katniss Everdeen. Coriolanus Snow is around, though, as an 18-year-old boy many years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem. In the story, he’s tasked with mentoring Lucy Gray, the tribute from the impoverished District 12 during the 10th Hunger Games. Lucy captures the attention of all of Panem when she defiantly sings out during the Reaping ceremony, and Snow comes to believe he can turn the odds in her favor.
Tom Blyth was recently cast to play Snow. Directing is Francis Lawrence, who was at the helm for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and both Mockingjay sequels.
The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes opens in theaters on November 17th 2023.
