Rachel Zegler’s vocals ring through ‘The Hanging Tree’, the first song to be released as part of the upcoming Hunger Games prequel ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’.
The orchestral track, released today through Geffen Records, was first released as the second single from the Hunger Games soundtrack: Mockingjay, Part 1″ in 2014. Jennifer Lawrence, who played Katniss Everdeen, lent her vocals to the track, which was originally written by Suzanne Collins and composed by Howard, Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers.
Audiences will witness the creation of the song in the forthcoming film when Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler) sings it for the first time. “The Hanging Tree” is then passed down through generations, leading up to its appearance in Mockingjay.
Based on Collins’ prequel novel of the same name, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” follows a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) as he strives to uphold his family’s legacy in a post-war Capitol. In the midst of his efforts, he is tasked with mentoring District 12’s tribute and Panem’s favourite, Lucy (Zegler). Coriolanus works with Lucy to keep her alive in the Hunger Games as he begins to waver between the concepts of good and evil.
Among the credits, The Hunger Games franchise director Francis Lawrence returns for the prequel. Michael Lesslie wrote the screenplay and Collins, Tim Palen and Jim Miller are executive producing alongside producers Brad Simpson, Nina Jacobson and Lawrence.
“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of the Mockingjay” premieres in cinemas on 17 November. Listen to “The Hanging Tree” below.
