November 5th 2023.
Rachel Zegler dressed to impress at the Berlin world premiere of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes in a fire-themed gown that paid homage to original star Jennifer Lawrence. Thanks to a Sag-Aftra interim agreement, allowing its actors to promote the movie despite the ongoing actors’ strike, Zegler, 22, and her co-stars took to the red carpet amidst the first reactions for the movie, which have been overwhelmingly positive.
The leading lady, who will next be seen as Disney’s Snow White, wore a black fitted mermaid-style gown with pointed corset top and distinct red fiery section at the bottom. This was a subtle nod to Katniss Everdeen, 33, portrayed by Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence, in the four original Hunger Games films. Katniss was also known as ‘the Girl on Fire’ thanks to her dramatic outfits created by stylist Cinna, such as a wedding dress that turns into a black Mockingjay design with wings after it ignites from the bottom.
Accompanied by co-star Tom Blyth, who plays a young Coriolanus Snow, Zegler was joined by her real-life boyfriend Josh Andrés Rivera, as well as the likes of Hunter Schafer, for the premiere. Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis and Jason Schwartzman also feature in the movie helmed by former Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence, who has guided every installment since the first movie in 2012.
Running at a lengthy 157 minutes, the film has received a lot of praise from critics. Daniel Howat of X gushed ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the best Hunger Games movie yet. It’s darker, more of a character study than anything, but always genuinely entertaining. With high stakes, solid action, and killer performances, it’s a thrilling return to Panem’. Glitter Magazine’s Nikki Fowler called it ‘the gift that keeps on giving from the Hunger Games franchise’ and a ‘brilliantly haunting dystopian action film’.
Tom Blyth was singled out as ‘dynamic and chilling’ as a young Coriolanus Snow, while Zegler reportedly ‘shines’ as Lucy Gray Baird. Film and TV critic Tessa Smith tweeted ‘The entire cast is phenomenal. Tom Blyth gives the performance of a lifetime!’ and ComicBook.com’s Jamie Jirak said ‘Rachel Zegler blew me away, Viola Davis ate, and Jason Schwartzman had me rolling’.
Set in post-war dystopian Panem, a decade after the first Hunger Games, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes sees young Snow tasked with mentoring Lucy Gray Baird after his family’s previously high stature has been damaged. The Hunger Games prequel is out in cinemas on Friday, November 17. Will you be watching?
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