The Hunger Games spawned four hit films. Now a prequel book,

and snakes have been

the Hunger Games

spawned four hit films. Now a prequel book called

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has been adapted into a new movie.

Prequels can be a mixed bag, so is this one any good?

It follows the early life of the man who would one day become the evil president snow and the singer who becomes his mentee.

I'm Stephen Thompson and today we are talking about the Hunger Games, the Ballad of Songbirds and

snakes on pop culture happy hour from NPR.

Joining me today is NPR producer J.C. Howard.

Hey there, J.C.

Hello, Stephen.

Also with us, co-host of Slate's ICYMI podcastM-I podcast and former P.C-H producer Candice Lim, welcome back, Candice.

Hi guys.

It's so good to see you.

So the ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set 64 years before the events that take place in the first Hunger Games book and movie.

Chory Elenist Snow, played by Tom Blythe, is one of a group of students enlisted to mentor tributes at the 10th annual hunger games.

The mentors are told that only one of them will receive a prestigious scholarship, an award sponsored by the rich family of his friend

Sejanis. Sejanis is played by Josh Andres Rivera.

Coriolanis needs the scholarship to reverse his family's fading fortunes.

His mentee is also an underdog. She's a singer named Lucy

Gray Baird, played by Rachel Zegler. She's chosen to represent District 12.

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