The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is an action-adventure fantasy movie, directed by Francis Lawrence. This film is based on the 2020 novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. It is a prequel to the 2012 film The Hunger Games, and the story is set 64 years before the events of the first movie. The movie follows 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, who is chosen to mentor a young girl named Lucy Gray Baird from the poor District 12 in the 10th annual Hunger Games. At first, Snow doesn’t think he has much chance of success, but things change when Lucy Gray impresses the people of Panem with her singing during the reaping ceremony.
As they combine their talents and start to understand the politics around them, Snow and Lucy must race against time. This journey will reveal who the songbird and the snake really are. The movie stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Josh Andrés Rivera, Hunter Schafer, and Peter Dinklage, who all give strong performances. The movie has a dystopian setting with some interesting filming locations, which makes many people curious about where it was shot.
Where Was “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” Filmed?
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes was filmed in Poland and Germany, in places like Wrocław, Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Leipzig. The main filming started in July 2022 and went on for almost four months, finishing in early November of the same year.
Wrocław, Poland
A big part of the movie was filmed in Wrocław, a city in the southwestern part of Poland. The scenes set in the arena of the Hunger Games were filmed in and around the Centennial Hall at Wystawowa 1 in Wrocław. This historic building was constructed between 1911 and 1913 and was originally made to host concerts, exhibitions, sporting events, and more. The crew also moved outside the city to Zalew Grzędy, where they filmed some other scenes.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, the capital of Germany, was the main filming location for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The outside of the Altes Museum at Bodestraße 1-3 was used as Heavensbee Hall, while the unique interiors of Landesbetrieb Krematorium Berlin at Südostallee 55 were used for Dr. Gaul’s office. Some outdoor scenes were also filmed around Strausberger Platz in the Berlin district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Britzer Garten at Sangerhauser Weg 1 in Berlin.
The sports stadium, Olympiastadion Berlin in Berlin Olympic Park, was another key filming site. The cast and crew were also seen filming inside the Veterinary Anatomy Theater at Campus Nord, Philippstraße 13/Haus 3 in Berlin. Other important scenes were shot in and around Bärensaal in Altes Stadthaus at Klosterstraße 47.
In a November 2023 interview with Screen Rant, director Francis Lawrence talked about the challenges of using real locations for filming. He said, “I found it less challenging and more fun, quite honestly. I think, A, I wanted to shoot in as many real places as possible. And I worked with production designer Uli Hanisch, who is based in Germany.” He also mentioned that they wanted to find the best locations that fit their vision, which was inspired by Berlin after World War II, around 1945-46. Because of this, they mainly filmed in Berlin, where they found amazing locations that they could enhance digitally if needed.
Other Locations in Germany
Besides Berlin, other parts of Germany were also used for filming. For example, some scenes were shot in Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord at Emscherstraße 71 in Duisburg. This public park was created in 1991 to help people understand and appreciate the industrial past instead of ignoring it.
The city of Leipzig also served as a filming location. The crew filmed several important scenes at the Monument to the Battle of the Nations at Straße des 18. Oktober 100 in Leipzig. This historical monument, completed in 1913, commemorates the defeat of Napoleon’s French army in Leipzig.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes was filmed in beautiful and historic locations in Poland and Germany. Wrocław, Berlin, and Leipzig provided the perfect backdrop for this prequel movie. These real-life locations added depth and authenticity to the film, making the story even more engaging for the audience. The use of real places allowed the actors to immerse themselves in their roles, creating a visually stunning and memorable movie experience.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Q: Where was The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes filmed?
A: “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” was filmed in Poland and Germany, including locations like Wrocław, Berlin, and Leipzig.
Q: When was The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes filmed?
A: Filming began in July 2022 and continued for nearly four months, wrapping up in early November 2022.
Q; What are some key filming locations in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes?
A: Key locations include Centennial Hall in Wrocław, the Altes Museum in Berlin, and the Monument to the Battle of the Nations in Leipzig.
Q: When was The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes released?
A: The movie was released in theaters on November 17, 2023.
Q: Why were real locations used in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes?
A: Real locations were used to create a more immersive and authentic experience for the actors and the audience.
