Lucy Gray might be poised for a bigger role in Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes after Rachel Zegler's casting. Suzanne Collins' hit young-adult series turned multi-billion dollar movie franchise is coming back in a big way in 2023. The days of Jennifer Lawrence leading the franchise as Katniss Everdeen are done, as a Hunger Games prequel movie focused on a young President Coriolanus Snow is happening instead.
There is no question that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is an origin story for Snow, the man who eventually becomes the President of Panem. However, his role in the 10th Hunger Games is as the mentor to the female contestant from District 12 named Lucy Gray Baird. The Hunger Games prequel movie finally found the right young star to play Lucy Gray, as it was recently announced that Rachel Zegler is adding the YA movie franchise to her filmography. This came after the confirmation of Tom Blyth playing a young Snow and leading the movie - but Zegler's casting might tease that more of Lucy's story is going to be explored.
While it is still expected that Snow will be the main character in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, casting Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray indicates she may have a considerable role in the film. This can allow the Hunger Games prequel movie to fix one issue from the books, which provides very little insight into Lucy's life beyond Snow. Lucy Gray's role in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is firmly in a supporting capacity in the books. Her story is always told from Snow's perspective, as the novel follows the young man as he falls for the tribute.
A movie adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes always was better positioned to show more of Lucy Gray's perspective, as a film can more easily bounce back and forth between following different characters. Now that the Hunger Games prequel has cast Rachel Zegler of West Side Story fame as Lucy Gray, it is notable that they went with a bigger name for a "supporting" character compared to Tom Blyth's young Snow, the main character. By the time the film is released, audiences will have seen Zegler lead West Side Story, play a major role in Shazam: Fury of the Gods, and star in Disney's live-action Snow White. She'll be firmly established as a recognizable star, so it only makes sense that Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will follow Gray more than in the books.
There is also plenty of room for the movie to explore more of Lucy Gray Baird's story with Rachel Zegler. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes can show her life with the Coven before becoming a tribute in the 10th Hunger Games or even highlight her experience in the deadly games. As compelling as her story is in the book, Lucy is only presented through Snow's eyes and that limits her from being fully realized as her own person. Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes can fix all of that now that Rachel Zegler is playing Lucy Gray.