Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage has joined the star-studded cast of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, prequel to the famous Hunger Games trilogy. He has been cast as Casca Highbottom, the dean of the Academy.
He will be appearing alongside Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow, Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird, Josh Andrés Rivera as Sejanus Plint, Hunter Schafer as Tigris and Jason Schwartzman as Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman.
Lionsgate, the producer of the original Hunger Games movie franchise, will also be producing The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The same director of the four Hunger Games movies, Francis Lawrence, will be returning for the prequel movie.
Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group President Nathan Kahane wrote about Dinklage’s casting in the following statement:
“With production underway, we couldn’t be more excited about the way this cast has come together and thrilled to be welcoming Peter Dinklage to Panem. Peter is not just a fan favorite actor who brings a commanding presence to every part he plays. He is one of the best actors alive. He will bring a formidable, charismatic authority to the important role of the dean of the Academy.”
In addition to the new casting announcement, the statement also reveals that production is already underway on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Lionsgate has already revealed the logo for the upcoming movie, even though the release date for the movie is more than a year away: November 17, 2023.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set many years before the original Hunger Games trilogy. It features Coriolanus Snow as he mentors Lucy Gray Baird, tribute from District 12 in the 10th Annual Hunger Games. At the same time, he struggles to retain his family’s legacy in the wake of the post-war Capitol. The story shows Hunger Games fans how Coriolanus Snow started his journey to become the primary antagonist of the original trilogy, demonstrating how even for him, the odds were not necessarily always in his favour.
Stay tuned for more news about The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes! Until then, read more about the acclaimed author of the Hunger Games series here!