Key Takeaways:
– Rachel Zegler, who played Lucy Gray Baird in the Hunger Games’ prequel, will not feature in the upcoming film, Sunrise on the Reaping.
– Her absence is due to the nature of her character’s story and her busy schedule featuring a new Disney film and Broadway shows.
– Fans hope a future prequel or spin-off may explore more of her character.
Rachel Zegler, beloved for her role as Lucy Gray Baird in the first Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, recently announced some disappointing news for fans. She revealed she will not be returning to the franchise for the upcoming movie, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
In the much-anticipated first film, significant ambiguity was left around her character’s fate. We saw Lucy flee into the woods to escape Coriolanus Snow. With news of more Hunger Games prequels in development, many fans have been brewing with excitement, hoping to uncover more about Lucy’s life before the main series’ events.
Zegler Not Returning for Hunger Games Sequel
Speaking candidly with Cosmopolitan, when asked about the chances of Lucy Gray showing up in the upcoming movie, Zegler stated that while she is open to reprising her role, she is currently not involved with the movie. She also hinted at her likelihood not appearing in the entire film.
Zegler has a full plate with her schedule packed with exciting new projects. Her next film, an animated adventure titled spellbound, is set to premiere on Netflix on November 22, 2024, in time for the Thanksgiving celebrations. Following Spellbound, she will feature in the Disney remake of its very first animated feature film, Snow White. Previously slated for release in 2024, it was delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strike and is now expected to hit theatres on March 21, 2025.
Zegler’s Broadway Debut
Showing her talent’s not limited to the screen, Zegler recently made her Broadway debut in the critically acclaimed Romeo and Juliet on October 26, 2024. The show was such a success that it had an additional four weeks added to its run and will now wrap up on February 16, 2025.
Lucy Gray Baird’s Future in the Hunger Games
The decision not to include Zegler in Sunrise on the Reaping is not entirely surprising. The new story narrates events set 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, making Zegler too young to convincingly portray an approximately 60-year-old woman. Moreover, the plot of this sequel is rumored to revolve around a young Haymitch Abernathy. This means that even with a lot of makeup, Lucy would still be out of place in the storyline. However, fans can stay optimistic as there is always a possibility of a cameo of Zegler as Lucy in the two years before the movie’s release in November 2026.
What’s Next for The Hunger Games Franchise?
The Hunger Games has been among Lionsgate’s most successful franchises of the 2010s, making it logical for the studio to revive it. Prequels such as The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping have given the studio an opportunity to broaden the universe of Hunger Games, developing the lore and delving deeper into previously established characters’ backstories.
While fans may be disappointed that Zegler will not appear as Lucy in Sunrise on the Reaping, they can look forward to a future prequel or spin-off that may reveal more about her life between The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes events and the inaugural Hunger Games. With luck, fans may yet see Zegler reprise her character in a future installment of the franchise.
