New Photos From The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Set on the Streets of Berlin

Some Capitol extras on the set of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

We've got some exciting new photos from the filming of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes around the streets of Berlin Strausberg Platz, Karl Marx Allee, and Lichtenberger Strasser.

You can see some extras in vintage style costume, some amazing vintage cars, and more great propaganda art they’re using on the sets!

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‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ New Behind-the-Scenes Set Photos of ‘The Hunger Games’ Prequel

Clemensia Dovecote, played by Ashley Liao, and Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth

Some brand new set photos just dropped courtesy of J14 and SacTributos. They feature Clemensia Dovecote, played by Ashley Liao, and Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth, filming in front of the James Simon Gallery in Berlin, being escorted by Peacekeepers down the steps of what is probably The Academy. This could be the scene from the book where Clemmie and Coryo are asked to leave class and report to Dr. Gaul’s office with their proposal about making the games more interesting. Which means poor Clemmie will not be smiling for very long.

Clemensia Dovecote, played by Ashley Liao, and Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth

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Isobel Jesper Jones Shows Off Her “Mayfair Red” Hair for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

photos via @jesperjones instagram

Isobel Jesper Jones (Mayfair Lipp in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) posted some photos of her dyed red hair to instagram yesterday with the caption “Mayfair red 🍒”. Did you catch that Mayfair’s hair is red in the book? Here’s the scene from the reaping where they describe her as a redhead:

“It happened quickly. The dip of her hand into the ruffles at her hip, the wriggle of bright green transported from her pocket and deposited down the collar of a smirking redhead’s blouse, the rustle of her skirt as she moved on.”

Isobel Jesper Jones replaced Laurel Marsden, who was initially cast as Mayfair Lipp, reportedly due to a scheduling conflict.  

She looks gorgeous as a redhead!

Exclusive From The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Set! 10th Hunger Games Poster

click for full sizeExclusive From The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes set! This 10th Hunger Games propaganda poster was photographed when they were filming at Landschaftspark-Nord, Duisburg, Germany back in August and sent to us by someone who wishes to remain anonymous.

You can see there are 13 stars on the poster - possibly representing the 12 districts and the larger star perhaps for the winner, or for the Capitol? There are also 12 wings on the ring. The poster looks to be heavily inspired by German propaganda art of the 1930’s.

For example, above is the actual cover of the program for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, an extremely controversial Olympics.

Before we were a fan site we created original art about The Hunger Games series, especially propaganda art referencing vintage German, Soviet, and North Vietnamese propaganda, so these aspects of the production design are always extra exciting for us to see! Fun fact: the Mockingjay production team used a modified version of one of our earliest Hunger Games pieces in the Mockingjay films. 

More photos from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes set can be found here, here and here.

New Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Set Photos: Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow, Capitol Zoo Scenes!

We’ve finally got our first blurry pictures of Tom Blyth in costume on set as Coriolanus Snow with his signature blond curls! This is at the Britzer Garten in Berlin where they’re filming the Capitol Zoo scenes. 

In these photos we also see some Peacekeepers, Capitol citizens in their 1930’s-looking vintage finery, and other Academy students or mentors. 

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The Grandma’am, Covey Members, Plinths and More Cast For The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Finally we have a Grandma’am! The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes has announced another round of actors joining the growing cast. Covey members, Capitol citizens, and District 12 Peacekeepers have been added. Let’s get into it. 

From left to right row 1: Fionnula Flanagan is set to play the Grandma’am, grandmother of future President Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and his cousin Tigris Snow (Hunter Schafer). Michael Greco and Daniela Grubert will play Strabo and Ma Plinth, the parents of Sejanus Plinth, Snow's “best friend.” Flora Li Thiemann (Nelly's Adventure) will appear as Livia Cardew, mentor to District 1 tribute, Facet (whose casting hasn’t officially been announced).

Row 2: The Covey cast has been rounded out as well. Honor Gillies will make her professional acting debut as Covey bass player and cousin of Lucy Gray Baird and Maude Ivory Baird, Barb Azure Baird. Konstantin Taffet​​​​​​​ - also in his film debut - plays fiddler Clerk Carmine, younger brother of Billy Taupe. Eike Onyambu is mandolin player and “lost soul” Tam Amber.

Row 3: The Peacekeepers cast are Burn Gorman, (who many may recognize from Pacific Rim), as Commander Hoff. Scott Folan will play Peacekeeper recruit Beanpole along with Carl Spencer as Smiley. Lastly, Isobel Jesper Jones has now officially joined the cast as Mayfair Lipp, replacing Laurel Marsden, who was initially cast, confirming months of speculation that this was the case. 

Confused? eed help keeping track of all the new faces? Check out a helpful visual guide to the cast and characters of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes here. 

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes will be released in theaters on November 17, 2023. 

Propaganda Posters, The Hanging Tree, Peacekeeper Vehicles, Extras and More! Inside The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Set In Germany and Poland

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is currently filming District 12 scenes in Germany. They’ve been spotted at Landschaftspark area in Duisburg, Germany filming the hanging tree scenes, the District 12 reaping, Peacekeeper recruit training scenes, and more. We’ve had fans send us some awesome photos from the set.

Photos from around the Landschaftspark set:

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Viola Davis has been cast as Dr. Gaul in 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes'

The rumors were swirling for months and now it’s finally official. Viola Davis has been cast as the evil Dr. Gaul in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes!

Dr. Volumnia Gaul is the Head Gamemaker for the 10th Hunger Games, University Professor, leads classes for the 24 Hunger Games mentors at the Academy, and heads the science lab that produces muttations. She also loves animal cruelty and torture, so a real fun gal! She ends up being a huge influence on the young Coriolanus Snow, setting his course for the future. 

What happened in the arena? That’s humanity undressed. The tributes. And you, too. How quickly civilization disappears. All your fine manners, education, family background, everything you pride yourself on, stripped away in the blink of an eye, revealing everything you actually are. A boy with a club who beats another boy to death. That’s mankind in its natural state. . . .

- Dr. Volumnia Gaul

“The Hunger Games films have always been elevated by their exceptional casting, and we are thrilled to be continuing that tradition with Viola Davis as Volumnia Gaul,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group President, Nathan Kahane. “Her formidable and powerful presence will add layers of complexity and menace to this story.”

“Dr. Gaul is as cruel as she is creative and as fearsome as she is formidable,” said Lawrence. “Snow’s savvy as a political operator develops in no small part due to his experiences with her as the games’ most commanding figure.”

“From the beginning, Viola has been our dream for Dr. Gaul because of the finely layered intelligence and emotion she brings to every role,” added Jacobson. “A brilliant and eccentric strategist, Gaul is instrumental in shaping a young Coriolanus Snow into the man he will become. We are incredibly fortunate to have an actor with Viola’s extraordinary range and presence to play this pivotal role.”

Davis is a multi award-winning actress, known for, among many other things, The Help, Doubt, and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom  - which all earned her Oscar nominations, and Fences in which she won her first Oscar in 2017 for her role opposite Denzel Washington. She’s also won 2 Tonys, an Emmy, multiple SAG Awards, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA! Next up she’s starring in Sony’s historical epic The Woman King, which she also produced. What a powerhouse! She seems like the perfect choice to bring all kinds of interesting layers to this twisted character. I can’t wait to see what she does with the role.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes debuts in theaters on Nov. 17, 2023.