One minuscule detail about Rachel Zegler’s Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes suggests she had much more influence on the citizens of Panem than anyone first thought. The 2023 dystopian action film brings Suzanne Collins’ 2020 Hunger Games prequel book of the same name to life, with Francis Lawrence, who directed three previous movies in the franchise, returning behind the camera. Collins’s words, combined with Lawrence’s vision, resulted in an in-depth villain origin story about the original trilogy’s primary antagonist and his complex relationship with the first District 12 victor.
Lucy Gray was the District 12 female tribute for the 10th Hunger Games in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow was her mentor. She surprised everyone with her colorful personality and bold actions, but most citizens grew to love Lucy Gray and rooted for her in the arena. However, following Lucy Gray’s win and disappearance after returning home, the memory of her seemingly vanished, as she was rarely mentioned in the original trilogy. But one change in the Capitol indicates that Lucy Gray’s influence has existed since the franchise’s beginning.
Lucy Gray Could Have Influenced How Hunger Games’ Fashion Changed So Much
One of the most memorable aspects of Lucy Gray’s character in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the dress she wears during the Games. The dress was Lucy Gray’s mother’s, which made her feel closer to her, but the Capitol citizens initially mocked her for the colorful outfit. Despite her clothing, Lucy Gray’s personality won people over, and her rise in popularity during the Games may have changed the wealthy citizens’ views on the dress. As many know, by the time of the 74th Games, the people in the Capitol wore extravagant outfits, and Lucy Gray may be responsible.
Aside from Volumnia Gaul, the Capitol citizens dressed simply in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. But 64 years later, everyone was decked out in bold outfits and had lavish hairstyles, and this fashion change could be evidence of Lucy Gray’s impact on the Hunger Games universe. Gaul might have gotten rid of all the footage of the 10th Hunger Games and tried to erase Lucy Gray from Panem’s history, but her influence evidently ran deep.
Recasting Mags For The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes 2: 10 Actresses To Play The 11th Hunger Games Winner
If a sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes happens and revolves around the 11th Hunger Games, these ten actors could play Mags in the film.
Lucy Gray Changing Hunger Games’ Fashion Means Snow Never Escapes Her
The possibility of Lucy Gray being the one to change fashion in the Capitol in the Hunger Games universe means that this detail is another example of how Snow could never escape her. The most obvious reminder of Lucy Gray is the very existence of Katniss Everdeen, which explains Snow’s vendetta against the Girl on Fire. However, the style of Capitol citizens might have been another way that Lucy Gray continued to haunt Snow after he tried to kill her (and might have succeeded) during The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes‘ ending.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel movie set 64 years before the events of the original movie with Katniss Everdeen. The film centers on a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and shows his rise to power as the leader of Panem. Taking place during the 10th Hunger Games, Snow is tasked with mentoring Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the tribute from District 12.
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
- Release Date
- November 17, 2023
- Writers
- Michael Lesslie , Michael Arndt , Suzanne Collins
- Cast
- Tom Blyth , Rachel Zegler , Hunter Schafer , Jason Schwartzman , Peter Dinklage , Josh Andrés , Josh Andrés Rivera , Viola Davis
- Franchise(s)
- The Hunger Games
