Peter Dinklage Joins 'The Hunger Games' Prequel 'The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes'

Actor Peter Dinklage is heading from Westeros to Panem!

The actor best known for playing Tyrion Lannister in the popular HBO series "Game of Thrones" has just been cast in "The Hunger Games" prequel movie, "A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes."

On Monday, July 18, Deadline reported that "Cyrano" star Peter Dinklage had been cast in "The Hunger Games" prequel series, called "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." The prequel movie follows the story of a young 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow decades before he became President of Panem.

The Emmy-award-winning star has reportedly been cast in the role of Casca Highbottom, dean of the Academy. He will star alongside "Billy the Kid" star Tom Blyth, who plays the young Snow, and "West Side Story" star Rachel Zegler, who has been cast as District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird.

Francis Lawrence, who directed "Catching Fire," "Mockingjay Part One," and "Mockingjay Part Two," will direct this latest film as well. The movie is based on the latest Suzanne Collins novel in "The Hunger Games" franchise.

In a statement, Francis Lawrence praised Peter Dinklage and his character. “Dean Highbottom is one of the most powerful people in Snow’s life," he said. "As the austere and vindictive face of the games, he sets the rules that will determine every aspect of Coriolanus’s fate. I’m thrilled that Peter will be bringing him to life."

Nathan Kahane, President of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, also praised his casting. “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,” Kahane said. “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.”

Franchise producer Nina Jacobson also had nothing but positive things to say about the "Brothers" star. “I cannot think of an actor more perfectly suited to inhabit the role of Highbottom,” Jacobson said. “As the man credited with conceiving the Hunger Games and the Dean of the Academy,  Casca Highbottom is a character with secrets.  Peter’s magnetism, intensity and dark humor will infuse him with the intelligence, depth and pathos that the role demands.”

"The Hunger Games" movie franchise proved to be a massive success. As Deadline reported, the book trilogy spawned four movies that earned over three billion dollars globally.

"A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" focuses on the story of 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Blyth), who is struggling to come to terms with his fading lineage and wants to restore his once-proud family to its former glory. As the 10th annual Hunger Games approaches, Snow finds that he is assigned as a mentor to Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler), an impoverished girl from District 12.

During the reaping ceremony, Lucy captures the attention of all of Panem when she defiantly starts singing during the reaping ceremony. As such, Snow thinks that he may be able to turn the odds in his favor after all. As the synopsis reads, "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."

Franchise producer Nina Jacobson, producer partner Brad Simpson, and director Francis Lawrence are behind the helm of the latest movie in "The Hunger Games" franchise. Author Suzanne, Collins, Tim Palen, and Jim Miller will also serve as executive producers.

Suzanne Collins and writer Michael Arndt worked together to pen the draft for the movie. Michael Lesslie has picked up their work and helped write the latest draft of the screenplay. Meredith Wieck and Scott O'Brien are also overseeing the production on behalf of the studio.

With a large ensemble cast, there are still many more actors and actresses that have yet to be cast in the project.

"The Hunger Games" prequel movie, "A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" hits theaters on November 17, 2023.