Lionsgate has finally dropped the full version of Rachel Zegler’s highly-anticipated rendition of “The Hanging Tree” song from the soundtrack of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Originally composed by James Newton Howard, the iconic song was first performed by franchise lead Jennifer Lawrence for 2014’s Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack. In the books, “The Hanging Tree” was the song that Katniss’ late father taught her.
Listen to Rachel Zegler’s version of “The Hanging Tree” song below (watch more trailers):
What is The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes?
“The film follows a young Coriolanus who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from the impoverished District 12,” reads the synopsis. “But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.”
Based on the 2020 prequel novel by Suzanne Collins, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes places several decades before the events of the Hunger Games trilogy, where an 18-year-old Snow gets assigned to mentor District 12’s tribute girl at the Tenth Hunger Games. Joining Zegler are Tom Blyth, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman, Josh Andrés Rivera, Max Raphael, Zoe Renee, Ayomide Adegun, Kaitlyn Akinpelumi, Amelie Hoeferle, Sofia Sanchez, Nick Benson, Laurel Marsden, Lilly Cooper, Luna Steeples, and more.
The film is directed and produced by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay written by Michael Lesslie, based on a draft by Collins and Michael Arndt. It hails from franchise producer Nina Jacobson and her producing partner Brad Simpson, with Collins, Tim Palen, and Jim Miller serving as executive producers.
