Is Katniss Related to a Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes Character?
The director weighs in.
Summary
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set to premiere on November 17, 2023.
- BOSAS' familiar characters and locations are not the only connection to the original franchise.
- Many fans have theorized that the two protagonists, Katniss Everdeen and Lucy Gray Baird, are related.
- Director Francis Lawrence supports this theory, but…
We are just over two weeks away from the premiere of The Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Longtime fans of the Panem universe can't wait to see the beginning of Coryo Snow's journey when the film hits theaters on November 17.
In addition to Snow, the prequel will feature the younger version of his cousin Tigris and familiar locations: The Capitol and the tenth annual Hunger Games. But that's not all the connections the movie, set 64 years before the events of the original franchise, will make.
Could survival skills run in the blood?
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes revolves around Coryo Snow's relationship with District 12 Hunger Games tribute Lucy Gray Baird, a singer and musician who is part of a group of traveling performers called the Covey.
The members of the Covey had to settle in District 12 and participate in the Reaping Ceremony following the war that spawned the Hunger Games.
After reading Suzanne Collins' book, which became the basis for the prequel, many fans theorized that Lucy Gray Baird was actually related to the protagonist of the original series, Katniss Everdeen, based on their shared survival skills and beautiful voice.
And the director of the prequel and the four original films, Francis Lawrence, thinks they are not far from the truth.
Who is Katniss' grandmother?
While Suzanne Collins has neither confirmed nor denied the fan theory, Lawrence said in the EW interview that he supports it but doesn't think Lucy is Katniss' direct ancestor. According to the filmmaker, another member of the Covey was a more plausible candidate to be Katniss' grandmother.
'I think Maude Ivory, the youngest in the Covey, is related to the Everdeens in the grand mythology of everything,' Lawrence said.
Lucy Gray Baird and Katniss Everdeen still share DNA
Maude Ivory Baird, the director is talking about, is a minor character in the book. She is Lucy's cousin, which puts both protagonists' names on the same family tree, and is about eight or nine years old when Lucy becomes a tribute.
The novel doesn't explore the character of Maude Ivory and her fate much, but she is described as a talented musician who can repeat any tune after hearing it just once. Isn't that exactly what Katniss did in The Hunger Games?
Looks like the fan-favorite Mockingjay inherited her ear for music from her grandmother. Hopefully the new movie will delve deeper into this connection.
Source: EW.