The events of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes take place 64 years before Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the 74th Hunger Games, but the prequel contains numerous references to the first four movies in the franchise. The 2023 film depicts Coriolanus Snow as an 18-year-old trying to prove himself in the Capitol, and it highlights his complex relationship with the female tribute from District 12 for the 10th Hunger Games, Lucy Gray Baird. Along the way, director Francis Lawrence and co-writers Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt wove many Easter eggs throughout the movie that connect to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay – Part 1, and Mockingjay – Part 2.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes contains names, places, songs, and more that should sound familiar to those who watched the previous four films. None of the original actors from the other movies appear in the prequel, but a couple of recognizable characters are at the center of the story. Additionally, plenty of elements work as narrative devices to foreshadow what happens to Snow when he rules over Panem.
12 Coriolanus Snow
Snow appears in all five films
The most obvious connection that the prequel has to the first four Hunger Games films is Coriolanus Snow, better known as President Snow. The book the movie is based on is told from young Coriolanus’ perspective as he becomes a mentor during the 10th Hunger Games. The film adapts the story and explains how Snow turns into the ruthless leader fans met 64 years later and whose sworn enemy is a 16-year-old girl from District 12.
Whereas Donald Sutherland plays Snow when the character is in his eighties and ruling over Panem, Tom Blyth portrays him as a teenager. But Sutherland has a subtle offscreen cameo at the end of the prequel when his voice is heard saying, “It’s the things we love most that destroy us,” which foreshadows Snow’s ending.
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11 “The Hanging Tree”
The song is heard in the prequel and the third movie
Music plays an important role in all the Hunger Games movies, and one song ties the prequel to the third film in the series — “The Hanging Tree.” Katniss sings the tune while she and the propaganda team are in District 12 capturing footage for the Rebellion’s Airtime Assault in Mockingjay – Part 1. Her performance is aired to the people of Panem, and District 5 rebels later sing the song while on their way to blow up the hydroelectric dam that supplies electricity to the Capitol.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes reveals the melody was written by Lucy Gray Baird, a resident of District 12 and the winner of the 10th Hunger Games. She coins “The Hanging Tree” following the execution of an innocent man who was blamed for three murders. Some fans believe that Lucy Gray taught her cousin, Maude Ivory Baird, the song, and she passed it on to Katniss’ father, who sang it to Katniss. The theory is that Maude Ivory is Katniss’ grandmother, but neither the movie nor the book confirms that.
10 Mentors For The Hunger Games
Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes features the first mentors
The 2023 prequel showcases the first-ever mentors for the Hunger Games. However, unlike the mentors in the first two films, they are not former winners of the annual Games. Instead, the mentors are top-performing students from the Academy who are each assigned a tribute to help prepare for the 10th Hunger Games. Coriolanus’ tribute is Lucy Gray, and he is undoubtedly the most dedicated adviser of them all. But given how the competition ends, it makes sense why the Gamemakers change the holder of the mentor role from Capitol students to past winners, as seen in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire.
9 Lucky Flickerman
The host of the 10th Hunger Games is likely related to another future presenter
The 10th Hunger Games in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes includes another first in the annual competition — a host. The Capitol’s weather forecaster, Lucky Flickerman, played by Jason Schwartzman, lands the job, and his last name should sound familiar to those who watched the other movies. Caesar Flickerman, played by Stanley Tucci, is the longtime host of the Games 64 years later in The Hunger Games. Given that the two men share a last name and Lucky alludes to having a baby in the prequel, Caesar is likely Lucky’s son who follows in his footsteps when he gets older.
8 Drones In The Arena
Drones were introduced in the 10th Hunger Games
For the first time since the Games were invented, the mentors send their tributes gifts in the arena via drones in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. As fans recall, Haymitch Abernathy uses money from sponsors to give Katniss and Peeta things like medicine and food during the 74th Hunger Games. However, the Gamemakers evidently perfect the method following the 10th Hunger Games since the drones are too fast and aren’t effective in the prequel.
7 Tigris Snow
Tigris appears in Mockingjay – Part 2
Aside from Coriolanus, Tigris Snow is the only character in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes who appeared in a previous movie. Tigris has a bigger role in the prequel as it is revealed she is Coriolanus’ cousin and confidant. However, their relationship changes after Coriolanus embraces his darkness, and Tigris reaches a point where she is more than ready to help the rebels take down her cousin. Katniss and her team seek shelter at Tigris’ shop in Mockingjay – Part 2 while on their way to kill President Snow. Hunter Schafer plays Tigris in the prequel, while Eugenie Bondurant portrays her in the fourth film.
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6 Peacekeepers
Peacekeepers look different in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Peacekeepers are known as ruthless law enforcement officials in the districts of Panem in The Hunger Games. While they do try to keep order and carry out executions in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, the Peacekeepers are less strict (and they have less imposing uniforms). Coriolanus and Sejanus Plinth are punished for interfering with the 10th Hunger Games by being forced to become Peacekeepers in District 12. While there, Coriolanus develops a deep hatred for the district and its mockingjays.
5 Hilarius Heavensbee
One mentor is likely related to an important Hunger Games character
Hilarius Heavensbee doesn’t have a prominent role in the prequel, but he is mentioned as one of the 24 mentors for the 10th Hunger Games. The student shares a last name with Plutarch Heavensbee, who is introduced as Seneca Crane’s replacement as Head Gamemaker in Catching Fire (and who helps the rebels overthrow the Capitol and President Snow). Plutarch is likely Hilarius’ son, but this theory isn’t confirmed.
4 The Hob
Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes features iconic District 12 locations
A significant portion of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes takes place in Lucy Gray’s home — District 12. One of the most recognizable spots during these scenes is the Hob, where the Covey perform. Unfortunately, following Lucy Gray’s disappearance, the Peacekeepers ban their music, and the Hob is later turned into a black market, as seen in The Hunger Games. The establishment is then burned down in Catching Fire when Commander Thread takes over as the Head Peacekeeper in District 12.
3 Arachne Crane
Arachne might be related to the Head Gamemaker of the 74th Hunger Games
Another mentor in the 10th Hunger Games is Arachne Crane, who is assigned the female tribute from District 10, Brandy. However, when Arachne taunts Brandy with a sandwich, the tribute reaches through the bars of the zoo where they are being kept and slits her mentor’s throat with a knife. Arachne dies (and Brandy is shot dead by Peacekeepers), but her family’s legacy in the annual competition seemingly carries on. Seneca Crane, the Head Gamemaker of the 74th Hunger Games, is likely a relative of Arachne’s.
2 Mockingjays
The mutant birds play a significant role in the series
One of the most significant motifs in the Hunger Games film series is mockingjays, which doesn’t change in the prequel. When Coriolanus travels to District 12, he learns about the mutant birds and grows to hate them. Toward the movie’s end, mockingjays echo Lucy Gray’s voice in the forest, and Coriolanus shoots at them in the air. The birds come back to haunt Snow when Katniss becomes the Mockingjay, the face of the Rebellion.
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1 The Games Themselves
The Hunger Games are at the center of the franchise
Of course, the final connection between the prequel and the first four films is the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games revolves around Katniss competing in the 74th annual competition, and Catching Fire features her and Peeta returning to the arena for the third Quarter Quell. Sixty-four years before Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place as the female tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray wins the 10th Hunger Games in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
