The cast of “The Hunger Games” prequel film “The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes” premiered on November 9. It became the first major film premiere since the Hollywood actors’ strike ended.
The Hunger Games prequel film cast kicked off the end of a four-month Hollywood actors strike at the world premiere in London. The film premiered on November 9 at London’s BFI IMAX.
Reuters reported that the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists or the SAG-AFTRA reached a tentative agreement with major studios on Wednesday, November 8. It resolved the second of two strikes which involved writers and performers demanding higher pay in the streaming era.
Hunger Games prequel The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes became the first major blockbuster premiere since the strike ended.
Hunger Games prequel film tackles Snow’s story
The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes tackles Coriolanus Snow’s story years before he would become the tyrannical Panem president.
Snow saw a chance to change his fortune when he became a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games. He mentors a girl tribute from the impoverished District 12 named Lucy Gray Baird who he eventually falls for.
The Hunger Games prequel holds the setting 64 years before the original books where Katniss Everdeen became District 12’s tribute.
Agreements and new terms reached
The strike ended on November 9 when Hollywood actors reached a tentative agreement with major studios to resolve the second strike. The 118-day strike ended just after midnight according to Reuters.
A three-year contract agreed upon included increases in minimum salaries and bonuses streaming services are to pay actors. The contract had a value of more than $1 billion.
Reuters reported as well that the deal provides protection against unauthorized image usage through artificial intelligence. This became a major concern from performers who feared having “digital doubles” as replacements for them.
The union said that they arrived at a contract enabling SAG-AFTRA members to build sustainable careers. SAG-AFTRA president and The Nanny’s Fran Drescher took to Instagram her reaction to the agreement and said “We did it!!!!”
The odds are truly in the actors’ favor.
Premiere happening after strike ends is “terrific”
Cast member Josh Andres Rivera said it felt terrific to hold a film premiere on a day with another good news. Rivera added that a lot of people are ready to get back to work and so was he.
Rivera plays Snow’s friend Sejanus Plinth in The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes.
Hunger Games prequel film’s very own Tom Blyth said that when he saw the news he exclaimed that it was a great day. Blyth plays the young Snow in the film.
Three of the main cast members headlined the first premiere held in Germany on November 5. Blyth, Rachel Zegler who plays Lucy Gray Baird, and Hunter Schafer who plays Tigris attended the premiere.
The film Francis Lawrence directed arrives in all cinemas on November 17.
Banner photo via Instagram @balladofsongbirds.
