The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes trailer shows only 16 tributes participating in the 10th Hunger Games, which is less than the usual 24. The Hunger Games franchise finally returns with a prequel story set over 60 years before Katniss Everdeen serves as District 12’s tribute in the 74th Hunger Games. The first two Hunger Games movies thoroughly explored the rules of the Capitol’s game, which bring a male and female tribute from each of the 12 Districts together to compete in a battle to the death. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes features a much earlier version of the competition where some aspects are different.
A glimpse at the 10th Hunger Games and its origins has now come through The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes trailer. The story revolves around how a young Coriolanus Snow helps mentor District 12’s female tribute Lucy Gray Baird at a time when the competition is evolving. The 10th Hunger Games bring betting, gifts, and more ideas into the games that are still relevant when Katniss’ journey takes place. However, the Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes trailer shows only 16 tributes are gathered when the Hunger Games start, and there are tragic reasons behind the smaller number of them present.
Several Tributes Die Before The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ Hunger Games Begin
The reason that The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes‘ Hunger Games only has 16 tributes is because several of them die before the event even begins. It is not the result of the rules being different and certain Districts being exempt from the games but rather a series of tragedies. The book upon which the Hunger Games prequel movie details several moments that lead to various tributes dying. The 10th Hunger Games was meant to have 24 tributes as usual, but that changed a few days after Reaping Day. The District 10 female tribute killed her mentor before the games begin, leading to her also dying.
This marked the first of many deaths before the 10th Hunger Games began that dwindled the number of tributes who could still participate. During a tour of the Capitol Arena, a bombing happened that killed both District 6 tributes. The chaos of the bombing saw both District 1 tributes die trying to escape. Meanwhile, District 2’s female tribute also died trying to escape. There were also a few tributes who died due to health issues in the days leading up to the start of the games. This includes District 5’s male tribute, while both from District 9 died days after the bombing due to not receiving proper care.
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Movie Leaves More Tributes Alive
The death toll that happened in the 10th Hunger Games in the books appears to not be as severe in the movie adaptation. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes‘ trailer shows 16 different tributes running around the arena at the start. 15 can be clearly seen in the shot above as they leave their starting markers, but another tribute can momentarily be seen running behind the collection of rubble in the middle. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes‘ 16 tributes represents a big change from the books, as there should only be 14 active participants at the beginning.
Which Tributes Are Still Alive When The 10th Hunger Games Begin In The Book
Lucy Gray leads the group of 14 tributes who are alive when the 10th Hunger Games begin in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes‘ book. She and the male tribute from District 12 are both alive at this point in the story, as are both tributes from District 11, District 8, District 7, District 4, and District 3. There is also the male District 10 tribute and female District 5 tribute who are alive. These are the only tributes who are alive and active during the Hunger Games that The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes covers, meaning the movie is set to change the fate of two characters it seems.
There is one other tribute who is still alive when these games begin, although not for long. The District 2 male tribute Marcus managed to escape from the Capitol during the arena bombing and was presumed to be missing when the games were about to start. This is when it was revealed that he was captured and tortured by the Capitol, who hung him in the arena from some poles. He was still barely alive at this point, but his condition meant he would not be visible as part of the 16 tributes featured in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
Key Release Dates
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The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
