5 Key Takeaways From Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Trailer: It's 2012 All Over Again

The Hunger Games era has returned. The prequel to the popular dystopian franchise is set to hit theaters on November 17, and fans have already gotten a sneak peek into the film, as the trailer was recently released on the official YouTube account.

Here are five key takeaways fans found in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes trailer.

Nostalgic Ride

Many fans noted that the trailer has the vibe they've been craving for over a decade. Back in 2012, The Hunger Games gained a huge following for its romantic coming-of-age story set in a picturesque dystopian setting. Now, dedicated fans are feeling that excitement again and are happy that the new film is not a reboot or remake but a spin-off that looks like a lot of effort and respect has been put into it.

Suzanne Collins' Novel

People have noted that the trailer makes it easy to see how close The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is to Suzanne Collins' 2020 novel of the same name. The story captivated readers, and the movie promises to be just as compelling. You can practically match every part of the trailer to its place in the book.

The casting is top-notch, the scenery is stunning, the old Capitol being rebuilt after the war is outstanding.

Perfect Dystopia

The original franchise introduced millions of people to the young adult dystopian genre, and fans feel the hype is back. The spin-off promises to be perfectly dystopian with a truly shocking bloodbath scene. According to the trailer, the scenes from the games are filmed and produced in much better quality than in The Hunger Games. The first glimpse of these scenes exceeds even the highest of expectations.

No District 8 Hospital Helper

One of the most memorable roles in Mockingjay – Part 1 was the legendary District 8 hospital helper, played by YouTuber Charles White Jr. aka penguinz0. His brief but iconic appearance has been a running joke in The Hunger Games fandom for years. Viewers would be keen to see the character's backstory in the new film, but the trailer does not feature White at all, which was disappointing to many fans who are still hoping for a surprise cameo.

Nod to Katniss

Fans have noticed that the way Lucy bows during the reaping ceremony in the trailer mimics the way Katniss Everdeen bowed to the Gamemakers during her private session in The Hunger Games. Though the two characters are very different, they are both from District 12, and there is even a theory that Lucy is Katniss' grandmother. But even if she isn't, the bow is certainly a nod to their connection.