Summary

• Rachel Zegler shares a hopeful update on a possible sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
• Zegler remains optimistic and believes Lucy Gray may still be alive, hinting at a potential continuation of her story.
• Despite uncertainty, Zegler expresses excitement for the possibility of a sequel and looks forward to revisiting the character.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes star Rachel Zegler gives an optimistic update for a potential sequel. The fate of Zegler's character, Lucy Gray Baird, is left ambiguous at the end of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes novel by Suzanne Collins and in the film adaptation, leaving audiences to wonder if Lucy Gray's story will ever continue. Lucy Gray became a fan-favorite character following the novel's release, which was furthered by Zegler's portrayal, a performance that won her Action Movie Star of the Year at the 2024 People's Choice Awards.

While speaking with Deadline, Zegler shared her thoughts on whether Lucy Gray's story is over, and if it could one day continue in a Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 2. Check out Zegler's response below:

According to Zegler, "I don't know. It's not up to me, but as Olivia Rodrigo said, 'She’s in the trees, she’s in the breeze,'" referring to lines from Rodrigo's song, "Can't Catch Me Now," that can be heard during the end credits. Zegler doesn't "actually know what's going to happen. I, for one, like to believe she's alive", but she remains optimistic about the chances of a sequel, stating, "I really hope so. It would be so fun to go back."

Does The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes Need A Sequel?

Another Hunger Games movie featuring Zegler as Lucy Gray is an exciting prospect.

Another Hunger Games movie featuring Zegler as Lucy Gray is an exciting prospect. It can provide definitive answers about what happened to her after seeing the truth about Coriolanus Snow, along with where she went and what she did if she was still alive. There are many theories about Lucy Gray's fate after The Ballad of Songirds and Snakes, including the possibility that she ed District 13 or even became its eventual leader, President Alma Coin. A sequel can confirm if any of these theories are true or if the truth is something else entirely.

A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes sequel can also further explore more Hunger Games, Snow's ruthless rise to power, and how he loses the love of his cousin Tigris. Tigris' attitude toward Snow clearly changes by the end of the prequel, but she is not yet at the point of wanting to kill him as she is during the events of Mockingjay. These could be stories worth telling, particularly if Collins chooses to write them as novels first, but they could undermine the powerful ending of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The ambiguity surrounding Lucy Gray is part of what makes the ending so compelling and what allows her to hold such power over Snow. Between composing the "Hanging Tree" song, becoming a symbol of resilience, and even weaponizing the mockingjays against Snow, Lucy Gray unknowingly lays the groundwork for Katniss Everdeen and the rebellion that will one day defeat Snow and the Capitol. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes doesn't answer every lingering question, but ends in a way that sufficiently connects the dots to the franchise's future, making a sequel arguably unnecessary.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is now available to rent or own on most digital platforms.

Source: Deadline/Instagram