A deleted scene from The Hunger Games film contained hints that set up the upcoming prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a full decade ago. The first Hunger Games movie came out 10 years ago, and its highly anticipated prequel is set for release in November 2023. The film will show how a young Coriolanus Snow was shaped into the ruthless Capitol leader he later became as he mentors the first female victor from District 12 in the 10th Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games films deviated from the one perspective style of the books and instead showed the audience other characters' perspectives throughout the films. In the first film, while Katniss was in the Games, the audience also sees President Snow having several conversations with the Head Game-Maker Seneca Crane about how to steer the Games in their favor. One scene in particular highlights how President Snow does not like underdog tributes nor would he root for anyone from District 12, as Seneca Crane suggests pushing for Katniss to win the Games.
However, there is a deleted portion of this conversation between President Snow and Seneca Crane that drops hints about President Snow's story and origins in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. While the original scene begins with President Snow sarcastically remarking that Seneca Crane likes an underdog, the deleted portion starts the conversation with President Snow reprimanding Seneca Crane for allowing Katniss to be special with the nickname "The Girl on Fire," to which Seneca replies that allowing a girl from a higher numbered district to win could be a gift. This added dialogue is what causes President Snow to realize that Seneca Crane likes the "underdog" from District 12, prompting the reveal of Snow's disdain for the poorest District.
How The Hunger Games Foreshadows A Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes
By cutting this dialogue, the film unintentionally removed a few big hints to plot points and characters in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. President Snow getting angry at the idea of a girl from District 12 winning the Games is not just about maintaining control over the Districts, but also about the Hunger Games prequel's Lucy Gray Baird, the tribute he mentored back in the 10th Hunger Games. The deleted scene between him and Seneca Crane shows President Snow's buried resentment for Lucy as she similarly worked the crowd of the Capitol to gain sympathy, and was someone he spent time with in District 12. Katniss' actions and Seneca's suggestion of her winning is, for President Snow, an unintentional reminder of Lucy Gray, how he lost her, and how she represented a change in how the Games were played all those years ago. Ten years ago, before the prequel book was even written, cutting this dialogue from the film would have been considered a quick scene trim for runtime. Now, however, with hindsight and knowledge of the events of the prequel, this extended version of the scene could be an incredible subtle foreshadowing of the new film.
A look at young President Snow, the 10th Hunger Games, Lucy Gray Baird's film debut, and the origins of many classic moments in The Hunger Games are all to be seen in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes when it comes out next year. However, one of the best things about franchises is when connections are formed before the audience is even aware they are important. If The Hunger Games had kept that deleted scene of President Snow and Seneca Crane, perhaps audiences would have had a few clues 10 years in advance as to why President Snow was so fearful of a girl from District 12 and how her victory would shift the odds to no longer be in his favor.