Tom Blyth To Star As Young President Snow In ‘The Hunger Games’ Prequel

Actor Tom Blyth is about to take on the role of a lifetime.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the "Billy the Kid" star has been cast as a young President Snow in Lionsgate's adaptation of "The Hunger Games" prequel, titled, "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes."

Blyth has been cast as the young Coriolanus Snow long before he eventually became President of Panem. In the movie franchise, President Snow was played by veteran actor Donald Sutherland.

In April 2020, Lionsgate announced that the studio would be adapting the prequel book revolving around the life of President Snow into a movie. The prequel book was written by author Suzanne Collins years after she finished writing "The Hunger Games" trilogy, which was then turned into four movies.

Francis Lawrence, who served as the director for almost all of the original "The Hunger Games" movies, will be back to direct the prequel as well.

The prequel is set decades before fans meet protagonist Katniss Everdeen, who is played by Jennifer Lawrence in the films. The prequel takes place around the same time as the 10th Hunger Games are taking place. For fans who may have forgotten, two citizens are chosen from each of Panem's twelve districts and forced to fight to the death for the amusement of the Capitol.

In the prequel book, Snow is only 18 years old when he is chosen to be a mentor from the female tribute from District 12, which is the district Katniss hails from in the later books.

The film's official synopsis says:

"Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.

It continues:

"But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem's attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy's race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake."

In a statement, Lawrence said, "Coriolanus Snow is many things — a survivor, a loyal friend, a cutthroat, a kid quick to fall in love, and a young man ambitious to his core."

He continued, "Tom's take on the character showed us all the complex ambiguities of this young man as he transforms into the tyrant he would become."

Producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson also praised Tom's performance in the film. In a statement, Jacobson said, "Tom's performance will both fulfill and disrupt everything you think you know about Coriolanus Snow."

She continued, "He's a tremendous talent who will show why Snow always lands on top."

"The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" is currently scheduled to hit theaters on November 17, 2023.