The Hunger Game: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Sofia Basulto and Alyssa Gin

February 9, 2024

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, based on the novel The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes by Suzanne Collins, released on November 17, 2023. The book was published on May 19, 2020, almost 12 years after the release of the first Hunger Games novel.

The movie starred Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow and Rachel Zeglar as Lucy Gray. The movie also featured Hunter Schafer, Viola Davis, and Peter Dinklage. Jacqueline Garcia, 12, was eager about the release of this movie. “I loved the casting,” Garcia said. “The characters and the adaptation felt just right.”

During its opening weekend, the movie made approximately $100.8 million. The movie’s soundtrack featured Olivia Rodrigo and the song she wrote for the movie. It also featured the songs Collins wrote in the book sung by Rachel Zeglar.

The movie was a prequel to the original Hunger Games Trilogy focusing on President Snow’s life and his time as a mentor. It revolved around the 10th Hunger Games where Coriolanus served as a mentor to Lucy Gray, the female tribute from District 12. Between Lucy’s performance abilities and Corionalus’s intelligence, the two teamed up to survive the games.

In the original Hunger Games trilogy, President Snow, or Coriolanus Snow, is the biggest antagonist. However, in this movie fans get to see his background and what led him to his presidency. David Arellano, 12, is a new fan to this series. “I think President Snow was a lot more fleshed out and human,” Arellano said, “I wouldn’t change a thing about this movie.”

The movie made references to characters that were introduced in the original trilogy, although this book is set 64 years before. With this movie, fans of the series started coming out with new theories and connections. The complexity of this dystopian world never fails to amaze fans.

The movie received high ratings from fans and audience members. Breeana Flores, 12, has been a fan of the franchise for years. “The movie exceeded my expectations,” Flores stated. “I would rank it number one of all The Hunger Games movies.”

About the Contributors

Sofia Basulto, Writer

Entering her final year of high school, Sofia Basulto, is returning for the third and final year of being a writer on the Downey Legend. Although entering senior year can be bittersweet, Basulto is ready to start creating memories and writing them down along the way. After she graduates, Basulto plans to go to her dream school at NYU in hopes of becoming a screenwriter and an actress. Outside of the newspaper room, Basulto is also a part of ASB and loves helping out others. Out of Downey High, Basulto enjoys listening to music, such as Lana Del Rey, SZA, and Amy Winehouse; Basulto also enjoys reading. With her very kind and outgoing personality, Basulto hopes to encourage Dowey High and anyone out there to enjoy this 2023-2024 school year. “ Sometimes, we just have to get out there,” Basulto stated. “ We only live once. We don’t know who can be out there. A person you have never spoken to, can be your soulmate.”

Alyssa Gin, Writer

Coming back to The Downey Legend for the second year in a row, Alyssa Gin, 12, returns in hopes of preparing herself for college and the future. Gin has been getting ready for this moment for the past 4 years, committing to playing Varsity Girls’ Tennis and volunteering in the Assistance League of Downey. Gin has been ‘experimenting’ with the possibilities of her future, trying different courses within school and accepting new opportunities to learn. Although she believes that getting involved is important, in her free time, her favorite thing to do is going to concerts, shopping, reading, and hanging out with her friends. Gin holds her family close to her heart and values the support she constantly receives and feels from them. “What motivates me through life is my family,” said Gin. “...and also I motivate myself.”