The YA dystopian franchise that captivated us all has finally returned, set 64 years in the past amidst the 10th Hunger Games. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the Hunger Games prequel will expand the world of Panem, its shaky politics, and cruel tradition, introducing fans to a fresh set of faces from long before Katniss’ era — some entirely new, others with names all too familiar.
Much of the story focuses on President Snow’s former years, offering a backstory to the tyrannical leader we’ve come to know and fear. Based on Suzanne Collins’ 2020 novel and directed by Francis Lawrence, the hotly-anticipated Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes will hit theaters and IMAX this Friday, November 17. As we await our return to Panem, learn more about its cast of mentors, tributes, and major players below. Let the Games begin (again).
Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth)
The novel follows 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow as he struggles to restore his family’s name and prestige, after sustaining damage from the districts’ unsuccessful First Rebellion against the Capitol. He’s sharp and fixated on perfection, becoming upset upon learning that his tribute mentee for the 10th Games comes from the impoverished District 12. However, his initial response quickly gives way to fondness of her. He’s portrayed by Billy the Kid star Tom Blyth, whose on- and off-screen bond with co-star Rachel Zegler is undeniable.
Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler)
As a member of the nomadic Covey group, leading lady Lucy Gray Baird commands attention from the Capitol and beyond, with her vibrant voice and equally-vibrant attire. Her charm mustn’t be mistaken, however, as she has her eye on survival and on the budding romance she shares with her mentor Coriolanus. West Side Story and Snow White actress Rachel Zegler portrays this musically-inclined female tribute from District 12. She’s ready to take the stage (and curtsey!) at any moment.
Sejanus Plinth (Josh Andrés Rivera)
Portrayed by Josh Andrés Rivera, Sejanus Plinth is a close friend of Coriolanus and one of the top-performing Academy seniors. Though born in District 2, his family’s wealth comes from weapon manufacturing, which instantly allowed him citizenship into the Capitol at a young age. His classmates bullied him for this and deemed him an outsider almost instantly, while Coriolanus stood back.
Tigris (Hunter Schafer)
Though this prequel’s version of Tigris is much younger and less feline, she’s equally fashionable and kind spirited. Portrayed by Hunter Schafer, Tigris has a distaste for the Hunger Games early on, warning her cousin Coriolanus – nicknamed Coryo – of its corrupt nature. She aspires to work in the fashion industry, and IRL, Schafer has already begun to take sartorial cues from the series and her fashion-forward character.
Dr. Gaul (Viola Davis)
With a shock of white running through her hair, Viola Davis’ portrayal of Head Gamemaker Volumnia Gaul brings mad scientist to an unprecedented level. After all, she’s the brains behind the Capitol’s experimental weapons division and horrific lab creations. What’re the Hunger Games for? She’ll certainly show you.
Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage)
What began as an idea for his class project, thought up in a drunken stupor, ultimately became the blueprint for the Games as we know them. Now, living with such guilt, Highbottom is the Academy’s dean and is portrayed by Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage.
Lucky Flickerman
Though he’s a Wes Anderson regular in the minds of many, Jason Schwartzman takes on the role of Lucretius Flickerman – Lucky for short – the cartoonish host of the 10th Hunger Games. This weatherman-turned-interviewer’s campy appearance and surname may be familiar to fans who recall the franchise’s Caesar Flickerman, beloved host of the 74th and 75th Games.
The Tributes and Mentors:
District 1: Facet (Tim Torok)
After the First Rebellion’s failure, Facet lived in District 1 and became its male tribute for the 10th Games, under his mentor Livia Cardew. Tragedy strikes with Peacekeepers, threatening him and Velvereen. He’s portrayed by Tim Torok.
District 1: Velvereen (Vara Kane)
From District 1 hails Velvereen, its female tribute who’s portrayed by Vara Kane. However, while touring the Capitol Arena, a deadly run in with Peacekeepers ends sourly.
Livia Cardew (Flora Li Thiemann)
Smug and lacking good sportsmanship, Academy student Livia mentors male tribute Facet and is portrayed by Flora Li Thiemann. Though it’s implied Livia eventually marries Coriolanus, she makes no effort to hide her distaste for him in this prequel.
Palmyra Monty (Aminata Toscano)
Actress Aminata Toscano portrays Academy senior Palmyra Monty, Velvereen’s mentor who faces tragedy from the start.
Related: Katniss & Lucy Gray: A Tale of Two Very Different Hunger Games Heroes
District 2: Sabyn (Yuli Lam)
Martial artist Yuli Lam is cast as Sabyn, who’s the female tribute from District 2. Due to its close proximity to the Capitol, Sabyn’s district is among the wealthiest, notable for its masonry.
District 2: Marcus (Jerome Lance)
Defined by his towering height and stoicism, Marcus is the male tribute from District 2 and is portrayed by Jerome Lance. Though he and his mentor, Sejanus, were once in the same District 2 class, after Sejanus moved to the Capitol, any sense of familiarity Marcus shared with him was soon replaced with hatred.
Florus Friend (Levi Strasser)
Sabyn’s mentor is Florus Friend, who is a senior at the Academy and is portrayed by actor Levi Strasser. However, his tribute confronts grave danger amidst the tour of Capitol Arena.
District 3: Teslee (Vanessa Blanck) and Circ (Felix Audu)
Vanessa Blanck portrays Teslee, the female tribute from District 3. This district’s industry of trade is technology, a background that she uses to her best advantage amidst the Games. Meanwhile, Circ is the male tribute, portrayed by Felix Audu. He claims to be able to start a fire with just his glasses, and we hope to see such a skill come to life in the movie.
Urban Canville (Mekyas Mulugeta) and Io Jasper (Seyna Sylla)
Academy seniors Urban Canville (portrayed by Mekyas Mulugeta) and Io Jasper (portrayed by Seyna Sylla) are mentors to the tributes of District 3. The ill-tempered Urban and his mentee Teslee struggle to engage with one another, while Io’s skill in the sciences complements Circ’s abilities.
District 4: Coral (Mackenzie Lansing)
Among the stronger tributes of the 10th Hunger Games is Coral, hailing from fishing District 4. Portrayed by actress Mackenzie Lansing, Coral’s got her eye on survival and is skilled with a trident, which she presents during the pre-Games interviews.
District 4: Mizzen (Cooper Dillon)
Cooper Dillon is cast as Mizzen, District 4’s male tribute who befriends Coral and Tanner during his time in the 10th Games. Alongside others, he’s fast to express his disdain for several mentors.
Festus Creed (Max Raphael) and Persephone Price (Athena Strates)
Played by Max Raphael, Festus Creed has known Coriolanus since birth and mentors Coral. Persephone Price mentors Mizzen from the same district and is played by Athena Strates. Ahead of the Games, Festus and Persephone strategize plans for their mentees together, and Coriolanus suspects Festus is falling for his Academy classmate.
District 5: Sol (Samia Hofmann) and Hy (Kittipong Ace Cunjanagan)
Samia Hofmann plays Sol and Kittipong Ace Cunjanagan plays Hy: the tributes from the electricity-centered District 5. Both are quickly zapped with misfortune, however.
Iphigenia Moss (Anni Baumann) and Dennis Fling (Yalany Marschner)
While some mentors see their tributes ruthlessly succeed, others promptly witness their tragic losses. The latter is the case for Iphigenia Moss, Sol’s mentor, and Dennis Fling, Hy’s. As her father oversees the Agriculture Department, Iphigenia (portrayed by Anni Baumann) attempts to send Sol food, though these efforts are cut short. Dennis (portrayed by Yalany Marschner) faces no better luck with Hy.
District 6: Ginnee (Kyra Reinert) and Otto (Nova Just)
Ginnee and Otto are District 6’s female and male tributes for the 10th Games. Portrayed by Kyra Reinert and Nova Just, respectively, the two tributes make the most of their situation as they face uncertainty. Ginnee’s mentor is Diana Ring, while Otto’s is Apollo Ring.
Apollo (Aaron Finn Schultz) and Diana Ring (Emma Brüggler)
District 6’s mentors Apollo (portrayed by Aaron Finn Schultz) and Diana (portrayed by Emma Brüggler) are identical twins, and they make no effort to overlook such a fact. They thrillingly play into this status through matching ensembles and personalities.
District 7: Lamina (Irene Boehm) and Treech (Hiroki Berrecloth)
Portrayed by Irene Boehm, the 15-year-old tribute from District 7 initially leaves a poor impression on her mentor, after she uncontrollably cries in their first meeting. Though deemed to be among the weaker of the tributes, she squashes this assumption at the start of the Games. Her male tribute counterpart, Treech, is out for himself and survival. He’s portrayed by Hiroki Berrecloth.
Pliny “Pup” Harrington (Ayomide Adegun)
Nicknamed Pup to distinguish himself from his esteemed naval commander father, this Academy senior is quite unlike his namesake. He initially struggled with preparing his tribute Lamina for her interviews and the Games, though her early successes turned his shortcomings around. Pup is portrayed by actor Ayomide Adegun.
Vipsania Sickle (Amélie Hoeferle)
Competition-hungry Vipsania Sickle is mentor to Treech, District 7’s male tribute. She’s thrilled by his self-sufficient behavior and thinks strategically ahead. Actress Amélie Hoeferle portrays her.
District 8: Wovey (Sofia Sanchez)
Actress Sofia Sanchez plays Wovey, District 8’s female tribute for the 10th Hunger Games. Upon the start of the Games, the young tribute immediately seeks refuge in the tunnels. Subsequently, little is seen of her, earning the nickname “no-show Wovey” from her mentor Hilarius Heavensbee.
District 8: Bobbin (Knox Gibson)
Knox Gibson portrays Wovey’s counterpart, Bobbin, the male tribute from District 8. Despite his small stature, he’s skilled at knowing how to kill with a mere sewing needle, as his name implies.
Hilarius Heavensbee (Florian Burgkart)\
Though he comes from money, Hilarius Heavensbee — likely related to the Hunger Games' Plutarch Heavensbee — played by Florian Burgkart, continually dwells upon and complains of his mentor assignment to Wovey. He’s quite outspoken about the Games and his disappointment.
Juno Phipps (Serena Oexle)
Coming from one of the Capitol’s founding families, Academy student Juno Phipps is snobbish and is initially disappointed in her tribute Bobbin, though his skill wins her over. She’s portrayed by Serena Oexle.
District 9: Sheaf (Jona Marie Laux) and Panlo (Lucas Wilson)
Sheaf is the female tribute from District 9 for the 10th Games. She’s portrayed by Jona Marie Laux, while her district focuses on the grain production industry. Lucas Wilson plays Panlo, the male tribute. He and Sheaf ultimately sustain injuries from an unexpected explosion – a rough start to the Games for their district.
Androcles Anderson (Chieloka Jairus) and Gaius Breen (Joshua Kantara)
Academy senior Androcles Anderson (portrayed by Chieloka Jairus) mentors Sheaf, while his classmate, Gaius Breen (portrayed by Joshua Kantara), mentors Panlo. Androcles hopes of becoming a Capitol News reporter and Gaius has a humorous personality — both, however, are impacted by the Capitol Arena attack.
District 10: Brandy (Luna Kuse)
District 10 tribute Brandy spent much of her life butchering hogs in the livestock industry – a fact that initially disgusts mentor Arachne. The young tribute is portrayed by Luna Kuse, and her time in the 10th Games is quite abrupt.
District 10: Tanner (Kjell Brutscheidt)
Like his District 10 tribute counterpart, Tanner too is familiar with slaughterhouse techniques. Portrayed by Kjell Brutscheidt, he was able to swiftly secure a weapon at the start of the Games.
Arachne Crane (Lilly Cooper)
Portrayed by Lilly Cooper, Arachne Crane is an unempathetic and snobbish student of the Academy, born into a wealthy family whose success once came from the travel industry. Off the bat, she mocks the tribute she’s meant to mentor, Brandy, though karma comes back to jab her.
Domitia Whimsiwick (Kaitlyn Akinpelumi)
Portrayed by Kaitlyn Akinpelumi, Domitia Whimsiwick is outgoing and bubbly. Her thorough knowledge on livestock aided her mentee Tanner’s performance during the interviews, gaining him crowd approval.
District 11: Reaper Ash (Dimitri Abold)
Growing up in District 11, Reaper Ash’s name speaks to his district’s agricultural economy and, as his mentor Clemensia notes, the cruel irony of him becoming its male tribute in the Reaping. he's played by actor Dimitri Abold.
District 11: Dill (Luna Steeples)
Though some tributes are better prepared for the Games, many are disadvantaged from the beginning, serving as yet another reminder for the tradition’s ruthlessly unsparing nature. Such is the case with Dill, the weakened female tribute from District 11 who’s portrayed by Luna Steeples.
Clemensia Dovecote (Ashley Liao)
Clemensia Dovecote’s among the top of her class, academically and socially. She’s portrayed by Fuller House and Love in Taipei actress Ashley Liao, and like her classmate Lysistrata, Clemensia too questions the immoral nature of the Games. She risks losing her well-tempered character, however, after an unfortunate incident alters her behavior and likeness.
Felix Ravinstill (Aamer Husain)
Played by Aamer Husain, Academy student Felix Ravinstill is the great-nephew of Panem’s President Ravinstill and is Dill’s mentor. However, all efforts to promote his tribute end up being unsuccessful.
District 12: Jessup Diggs (Nick Benson)
Portrayed by Nick Benson, District 12’s male tribute Jessup Diggs teams up with district partner Lucy Gray and protects his mentor after an explosion. Despite his great strength from years of working in the mines, Jessup faces a brief and rocky start to the Games.
Lysistrata Vickers (Zoe Renee)
Among the Games’ critics is the Academy student Lysistrata Vickers, who is Jessup’s mentor. She’s portrayed by actress Zoe Renee and is described as being sharp, well put together, and caring of her tribute.
The Covey and Citizens of District 12:
Maude Ivory Baird (Vaughan Reilly)
Known for her delightful and impressive singing abilities, the young Maude Ivory Baird is Lucy Gray’s cousin and a member of the Covey. She’s fiercely protective of her older cousin and is played by Vaughan Reilly.
Billy Taupe Clade (Dakota Shapiro)
Though he was once a long-time member of the Covey, Billy Taupe Clade betrayed Lucy Gray after leaving her for Mayfair. He – quite unsuccessfully – tries making amends with his once-family, resulting in only greater tension. Billy Taupe is portrayed by Dakota Shapiro.
Mayfair Lipp (Isobel Jesper Jones)
Mayfair Lipp is the daughter of District 12’s Mayor Lipp and girlfriend of Billy Taupe. After discovering he had dated Lucy Gray behind her back, Mayfair urges her father to reap the tribute-to-be. She’s portrayed by Isobel Jesper Jones and is notably recognized by her red hair, mocking smirk, and holier-than-thou personality.
