Rachel Zegler Sings ‘Hanging Tree’ in Extended Sneak Peek at Hunger Games Origin Story: Watch (Exclusive)

A ballad about songbirds and snakes expands the world and history Hunger Games.

In an extended first look at the new film shared exclusively with PEOPLE — featuring new footage and a performance from “The Hanging Tree” star Rachel Zegler — director Francis Lawrence explains how the origin story shows young Coriolan Snow “being nurtured into the man he becomes.”

Tom Blyth plays Snow, who was portrayed by Donald Sutherland in the previous film Hunger Games movies. Ballad of songbirds and snakes takes place in Panem 64 years before we meet Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) in the first film.

Zegler is Lucy Gray Baird, a District 12 tribute with singing talent who is paired with Snow as a mentor for the 10th annual games.

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Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”

Murray Close/Courtesy of Lionsgate

‘Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’: Everything you need to know about the ‘Hunger Games’ predecessor

Producer Nina Jacobson says in the clip: “Snow has never met anyone like her [Lucy Gray]. This romance between them makes Snow question everything he was raised to believe.”

The clip also features Zegler’s performance of “The Hanging Tree,” a song Lawrence sang in 2014. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 who made his way to Board Top 100 rankings. It’s just one of several songs story from the west side Alum Zegler sings in new film.

Tom Blyth and Viola Davis in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”

Murray Close/Courtesy of Lionsgate

Composer James Newton Howard says, “‘Hanging Tree’ returns in a completely different iteration and treatment.” Director Francis adds, “This is where we get to see Lucy Gray come up with it for the first time.”

Dave Cobb is executive musical producer of the film, which features tunes inspired by the music of the British Isles and Southern music, stitched together for a dystopian setting.

A stellar cast Ballad of songbirds and snakes, based on the 2020 novel by Suzanne Collins, also stars Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, Jason Schwartzman and Viola Davis.

Courtesy of Lionsgate

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes it’s in theaters on November 17. Rachel Zegler’s “The Hanging Tree” single is available Friday.

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Source: HIS Education