The new movie is causing a storm!
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Move over, Hunger Games movies—The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is shaking things up! This epic tale of Coriolanus Snow’s early escapades has snagged a franchise best!
Picture this: 64 years before Katniss Everdeen became the girl on fire, we get an inside scoop into Snow’s world.
The man, the myth, the future president—Coriolanus Snow himself takes center stage in this prequel extravaganza. He’s not just a sinister figure in the shadows; he’s the star of the show, making his mark on the Hunger Games scene.
The Rotten Tomatoes audience score for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a jaw-dropping 91 percent. That’s right…—91 percent!
It’s like Snow orchestrated a flawless performance, and the audience couldn’t help but give him a standing ovation. The closest competitor, Catching Fire, trails behind at a respectable 89 percent. But let’s be real, 91 percent is the new high score in Panem.
However while Snow is winning the hearts of the audience, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is facing a different kind of challenge at the box office.
It’s like the odds weren’t in its favor. Despite claiming the top spot, the movie has only pocketed around $44 million in its opening weekend. Ouch! That makes it the Hunger Games movie with the worst opening weekend ever.
But fear not, dear fans! Just like a tribute facing tough odds in the arena, The Ballad might have stumbled out of the gate, but its positive audience vibes could be the secret weapon it needs.
Who knows? Maybe this underdog will turn the tide and become the Capitol’s unexpected darling in the end. May the box office odds be ever in its favor!
Hunger Games Director Wants To Do Another Movie
Get ready, Hunger Games fans, because Francis Lawrence, the mastermind behind the upcoming prequel, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” is here to spill the beans on the possibility of another thrilling installment!
We’re diving headfirst into the world of Panem decades before Katniss Everdeen’s arrow-slinging adventures began. So grab your mockingjay pins, and let’s talk!
Our beloved director, Francis Lawrence, is back in action and ready to reveal his secret conditions for returning to the director’s chair for another epic Hunger Games movie. This prequel, based on the genius of author Suzanne Collins, stars none other than the amazing Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12 paired up with the young Coriolanus Snow, played by the talented Tom Blythe, in the 10th Hunger Games.
But wait, the excitement doesn’t stop there! Before “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” hits theaters, Lawrence, who’s no stranger to the franchise, sat down with EW to dish out what it would take to get him back on board for another wild ride.
While there might not be any official plans for a sequel just yet, Lawrence is making it clear that he’s got his eyes on the prize, and that prize is more source material from the brilliant mind of Suzanne Collins.
In his own words, Lawrence exclaims:
“If Suzanne has another thematic idea that she feels fits into the world of Panem — whether with new people or familiar characters — I’d be interested in being a part of it. But I don’t have any pull of just going, like, ‘I would love to do Finnick’s games.’ What are the thematic underpinnings that make it worth telling? The original ones were all about the consequences of war. [BOSS] is about the state of nature. That’s what makes them feel rich — and why they’ve stood the test of time.”
So there you have it, the inside scoop on Francis Lawrence’s hunger for more Hunger Games action. As fans, we can only hope that Suzanne Collins has more tricks up her sleeve, ready to take us on another thrilling journey through the dystopian world of Panem.
May the odds be ever in our favor for a future filled with more exciting adventures and unforgettable characters!
Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes Releases New Trailer
21 Actors From The Harry Potter Films Who Are No Longer With Us
Calling all fellow wizards and witches, it’s time to raise our wands and remember the magical stars who’ve left us from the Harry Potter universe. Since the very first Harry Potter movie graced our screens in 2001 with “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” we’ve laughed, cried, and cheered alongside a fantastic cast of characters. But, my friends, the bittersweet truth is that not all of them are still with us.
We’ve had to bid farewell to 21 talented actors who brought the wizarding world to life. From the mighty Professor Snape, played by the unforgettable Alan Rickman, to the wise Professor Dumbledore portrayed by the legendary Richard Harris. Even the gentle giant Hagrid, portrayed by Robbie Coltrane, has ventured into the great beyond.
But it’s not just the headlining heroes who have left us. The magic of Harry Potter extends to the supporting cast as well. Elizabeth Spriggs, who played the enchanting Fat Lady guarding Gryffindor Tower, and Verne Troyer, our beloved Griphook, have also passed away.
1) Richard Harris – Albus Dumbledore
Prior to Michael Gambon taking over for the remaining six Harry Potter films, Harris played the grandfatherly headmaster in the first two films and many fans were delighted with the casting as he looked as so many fans imagined!
2) Alan Rickman – Severus Snape
Fans of Harry Potter were very saddened by Severus Snape’s loss, but Alan Rickman’s death was by far a bigger shock. Tragically, the actor passed away in January 2016 after receiving a confidential diagnosis of terminal cancer.
3) Robert Knox – Marcus Belby
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Knox, an English actor, played Marcus Belby. Tragically, Knox was fatally stabbed outside a London pub after getting involved in a fight to defend his brother.
Later, a documentary was produced on the actor’s tragic passing and the cast of the Potter films wore ribbons in his memory at the premiere.
4) Elizabeth Spriggs – The Fat Lady
Spriggs was well-known for portraying The Fat Lady, a living portrait who watches over the Gryffindor common area. Comedian Dawn French subsequently took over the part.
5) Timothy Bateson – Kreacher
Prior to his death in 2009, Bateson performed the voice of Kreacher, an elderly house elf, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
6) Alfred Burke – Armando Dippet
Alfred Burke, who was well-known for his roles as Frank Marker in Public Eye and subsequently as Armando Dippett, Dumbledore’s predecessor at Hogwarts, died in February 2011 at the age of 92.
7) Jimmy Gardner – Ernie Prang
In the third Harry Potter movie from 2004, Gardner, a WWII veteran who had been acting since the 1960s, played Knight Bus driver Ernie Prang.
8) Eric Sykes – Frank Bryce
Frank Bryce, a Muggle who lived in Little Hangleton, the same community which the Riddle family also called home, was portrayed by comic actor Eric Sykes. He worked as their gardener and eventually was the main suspect in the death of the family, but viewers will know he was innocent.
9) Richard Griffiths – (Uncle) Vernon Dursley
Richard Griffiths, a renowned British actor of theatre and cinema recognised for performances in The History Boys, Withnail and I, and Chariots of Fire, was the only person who could have brought Harry’s Uncle Vernon to life and fans loved to loathe him!
10) David Ryall – Elphias Doge
In the 2010 film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Ryall took over Peter Cartwright’s role as Elphias Doge, a member of the Order of the Phoenix but sadly passed away, 2014’s Christmas Day.
11) Dave Legeno – Fenrir Greyback
Fenrir Greyback was a werewolf and Death Eater with a sinister propensity for harming innocent youngsters, as the really die-hard fans would know. Tragically, the actor who played him passed away in July 2014 in Death Valley, California, after appearing in three Harry Potter films.
12) Roger Lloyd Pack – Barty Crouch Senior
Roger Lloyd Pack, who played Trigger in the enduring sitcom Only Fools and Horses, went on to play Barty Crouch Senior, a powerful Ministry of Magic official in the series furing Goblet of Fire.
13) Derek Deadman – Tom The Innkeeper
Derek Deadman, a character actor with more than 40 years of experience in the British entertainment business, created the role of Tom, the barman from The Leaky Cauldron, a pub in Diagon Alley.
14) Terence Baylor – The Blood Baron
The Bloody Baron, a ghost at Hogwarts who was originally a wizard also known as Phillip Strenger, was played by New Zealand actor Terence Bayler.
15) John Hurt – Ollivander
Hurt, a well-known English actor whose career spanned five decades including a pivotal part in the Doctor Who video, played the kind-hearted wandmaker Ollivander in the movie series.
16) Robert Hardy – Cornelius Fudge
Magical Minister Robert Hardy CBE, who had acting credentials in theatre, cinema, and television before his passing in 2017, played Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter movies.
17) Verne Troyer – Griphook
Verne Troyer played Mini Me in the Austin Powers movie, which is perhaps his most well-known role, but he also played Griphook in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone until Warwick Davies took over.
18) Helen McCrory – Narcissa Malfoy
Before her tragic passing in 2021, McCrory had amassed a large following because to her performances in films like Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter series and Polly in Peaky Blinders.
19) Robbie Coltrane – Rubeus Hagrid
The world was in mourning in 2022 after learning of the passing of renowned Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane, who is best known for his role as Hagrid, the affable groundskeeper in the Harry Potter series.
20) Leslie Phillips – The Sorting Hat
Phillips was well-known for appearing in the Carry On films and for lending his voice to The Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter films. He passed away in November of last year after building a successful and protracted acting career.
21) Michael Gambon – Albus Dumbledore (2)
Sadly the news of Michael Gambon’s passing is so sudden and yet he contributed to 6 of the Harry Potter films after taking over from Richard Harris in which he showed a feistier side to the headmaster and fans came to love him. Not to mention his most famous quote ‘Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light’
As fans of the wizarding world, we’ll always cherish the enchanting moments these actors gifted us. Let’s hold onto those memories, rewatch the films, and keep their magic alive in our hearts. After all, “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home,” as J.K. Rowling once said. And so will the enchanting performances of these dearly departed actors in the world of Harry Potter.
