The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes leaves the door open for a sequel, but that would require answering a major Hunger Games mystery from the last four years. The live-action movie franchise adapted Suzanne Collins’ first prequel book in 2023 as a chance to expand the series beyond Katniss Everdeen’s story. By refocusing the story around a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and his relationship with Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), District 12’s female tribute in the 10th Hunger Games, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes‘ ending is ambiguous enough for a sequel to happen.
The first Hunger Games prequel movie proved to be a moderate success for Lionsgate, as it made over $330 million worldwide against a $100 million budget. Yet, there has not been an official announcement for The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 2. There is currently no source material for a movie to adapt, and all signs point to the studio wishing to wait for Collins to write a sequel book. While it is unknown if The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes will get a sequel, the potential film would have to answer a much-debated mystery.
The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes’ 8 Biggest Hunger Games Prequel Book Changes
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is faithful to the book by Suzanne Collins, but there are still a few changes. We break down what the film alters.
The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes 2 Can’t Happen Without Confirming Lucy Gray’s Fate
If The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 2 ever happens, the movie will be forced to confirm what happened to Lucy Gray. This is the biggest mystery from the book and movie adaptation, as her fate is not directly confirmed. After being shot at by Snow in the woods, she completely disappears. The uncertainty about whether Lucy Gray died or survived this encounter has prompted various theories that have big ramifications for the Hunger Games franchise.
Lucy Gray’s fate is too big of a question for The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 2 to ignore at this point. Even if the sequel primarily focuses on Snow’s ascension through Panem and possibly the 11th Hunger Games, he would surely still be haunted by the paranoia that Lucy Gray could return at any moment. It would not feel like a proper The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes sequel if Lucy Gray was entirely absent and never mentioned. That is why the follow-up needs to provide an answer to the Hunger Games franchise that stems from Collins’ book.
What Lucy Gray’s Story Could Be In The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes 2
There are essentially two different options for what Lucy Gray’s story in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 2 could look like. The first is that she does not get much of a story at all if it is confirmed that she died. This could allow the sequel to bring Rachel Zegler back for a small role and potentially show the final interaction Snow and Lucy had before her death. Even in this scenario, Lucy’s presence could still loom large over the sequel as Snow reflects on his actions and killing someone else close to him.
Lucy Gray could return in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 2 in a more prominent role as well. While there is a chance she could choose a simple life for herself out of the public eye, it would be more in line with her character to try and defy Snow. The book confirms that he erased all records of the 10th Hunger Games in an attempt to wipe Lucy Gray from history. This could propel her to expose Snow’s role in killing Sejanus in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and more to bring him down.
