The 10th annual Hunger Games are ramping up, as another round of mentors and tributes have been announced.The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakeshas added six additional cast members to the prequel.Max Raphael,Ayomide Adegun,Amélie Hoeferle,Kaitlyn Akinpelumi,Sofia Sanchez, andZoe Reneeare the latest round of actors to join the movie, and the news follows just a day afterJason Schwartzmanwas announced as part of the cast. Other previously announced stars includesTom Blyth,Rachel Zegler,Hunter Schafer,Jerome Lance,Ashley Liao,Knox Gibson,Mackenzie Lansing,Aamer Husain,Laurel Marsden,Lilly Cooper,Luna Steeples,Hiroki Berrecloth,Nick Benson, andJosh Andres Rivera.
Raphael will play Festus Creed, a mentor to one of District 4’s tributes. Adegun and Hoeferle will play Pliny “Pup” Harrington and Vipsania Sickle, respectively, both of whom will mentor District 7’s tributes. Akinpelumi will play Domita Whimsiwick, a mentor to one of District 10’s tributes. Sanchez will play one of District 8’s tributes, Wovey. Renee will play Lysistrata, a mentor to a District 12 tribute. As Blyth will star in the movie as Coriolanus Snow, mentor to District 12’s female tribute, viewers can expect Renee’s mentee to be District 12’s male tribute.
Raphael recently appeared in the 2021 filmSchool’s Out Foreverand completed a collection of monologues titledA People’s Tapestryin collaboration with Drink the Ink and Nick Hern Books. Adegun held a series regular role inThe Continental,while Hoeferle has starred in a number of short films, including the acclaimed shortThe Boogeywoman. Akinpelumi earned her first role in the filmHow to Talk to Girls at Partiesand will next appear in Netflix’s upcoming filmThe School for Good and Evil.Sanchez is well-known for her viral video “Down Syndrome Is Not Scary” and had her acting debut in the 2015 seriesSwitched at Birth. Renee can most recently be seen in Amazon Studios’Masterand will lead Disney+’s upcoming 2023 filmChang Can Dunk.
RELATED:‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’: Hunger Games Prequel Adds Jason Schwartzman
Adapted from theSuzanne Collinsnovel of the same name,The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesfollows an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Blyth) about 64 years prior toThe Hunger Games. As his family struggles to maintain their reputation, preparations begin for the 10th annual Hunger Games, and Coriolanus is set to be a mentor. When he learns that his mentee will be District 12’s female tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler), he becomes embarrassed and disheartened. However, when Lucy Gray captures the attention of Panem, Snow thinks he and Lucy Gray can combine their respective skills to turn the tide in their favor.
Francis Lawrencereturns to the franchise as director. The screenplay is written byMichael Lessliefrom a previous draft byMichael Arndt. Collins,Tim Palen, andJim Millerexecutive produce. Lawrence,Brad Simpson, andNina Jacobsonserve as producers.Meredith WieckandScott O’Brienare overseeing the project for Lionsgate.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesreleases in theaters on July 12, 2025.
