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Rachel Zegler initially turned down the role of Lucy Gray Baird in the 2023 prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, despite being the filmmakers’ first choice. Accounts from Zegler and co-star Tom Blyth point to the strain of being far from home after consecutive projects; Zegler later said she regretted saying no. She eventually re-entered the casting process and read remotely with Blyth.
Which Hunger Games role did Rachel Zegler nearly miss?
Zegler was considered for Lucy Gray Baird, the singer and performer at the center of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. She was not in contention for Katniss Everdeen in the original Hunger Games films. Tom Blyth, who plays Coriolanus Snow in the prequel, said in a November 2023 Vanity Fair interview that Zegler had been the filmmakers’ first pick but initially declined.
Why did she initially say no?
Blyth recalled that Zegler had been working on back-to-back projects and was in London, away from her family and boyfriend. The prospect of remaining away from home for more work was a major concern.
In an interview reported by The Independent on September 26, 2023, Zegler described arriving in London and feeling far from the people she knew and loved. “I had just gotten to London and I wanted to disappear because I was so far away from home for the first time ever. And I was away from everybody that I knew and loved, and I said no,” she recalled. The same report says Zegler regretted declining almost immediately.
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#1 Best Overall
- Collects all four Hunger Games paperback novels in one complete box set, including the prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and SnakesFeatures Suzanne Collins' complete dystopian saga from the original trilogy to the origin story of President SnowA must-have collection for Hunger Games fans and lovers of dystopian fiction
How did Zegler return to the casting process?
Zegler later put her name back in consideration after another project fell through, according to The Independent. Blyth said she returned near the end of his audition process. The two read together remotely from their kitchens: Zegler in London and Blyth in Brooklyn.
Blyth recalled that her singing changed the atmosphere of the read and that he felt their connection could work on screen. The remote audition helped demonstrate the chemistry between the actors, as well as Zegler’s fit for a role built around performance and music.
Rank #2
- Complete set for fans of dystopian fiction.
- Great for collectors and new readers alike.
- Ideal gift set for young adult readers.
Did Josh Andrés Rivera’s casting change her mind?
Rivera, who plays Sejanus Plinth, had been cast before Zegler returned to consideration, The Independent reported. Rivera is Zegler’s boyfriend, but the reported accounts do not establish his casting as the reason she reconsidered. Zegler’s explanation centers on regretting her initial refusal and returning to the mix after another project fell through; Blyth emphasized the remote read and her performance. Those details describe the timeline and her stated reasons without proving a single cause for the change of heart.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why was singing so important to the casting?
Lucy Gray is a performer, and music is central to the film, making singing ability a key part of the role rather than an incidental skill. Casting director Debra Zane told Backstage in November 2023: “She had to be a singer. The music in this movie is a big part of the story, and her singing is much different than Katniss’ in ‘The Hunger Games.’” Zane and fellow casting director Dylan Jury also described the character as needing both vulnerability and toughness.
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