Lionsgate announced that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The movie is from the perspective of President Coriolanus Snow and is based on the novel of the same name, written by Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins.
The prequel novel added more backstory to the already detail-rich dystopian future that Collins created, giving audiences, even more, to think about. What's so enjoyable about a series with this level of detail is that it allows authors and screenwriters to hide several details for audiences to find over time. Redditors took up the discussion of what details have been hidden throughout The Hunger Games series, and some eagle-eyed fans were all too willing to share their finds.
Peeta's Secret Salute
Six months after their victory in the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta went on a Victory Tour that brought them back to the Capitol for a lavish party. They were both garbed in their Capitol best, which included nail polish for Peeta.
ChillApe42 noticed something significant about Peeta's polish: only his first three fingers were painted. This Redditor believes that this meant that Peeta was "subtly giving the Mockingjay solute while in the heart of the Capitol." This small form of rebellion showed that while Peeta and Katniss pretended to be loyal to the President, this was not true.
Katniss' Secrets
When Finnick first meets Katniss, he flirtily teases her, causing Katniss to become uncomfortable. He asks her if she has any secrets worth hearing, and she answers that everyone always seems to know her secrets before she does. With a laugh, Finnick responds that he thinks that might be true.
Before fans know Finnick, this just seems like playful banter. However, Redditor Keegan320 noticed on a second watch-through that Finnick was referring to the secret he knew that Katniss didn't. "Finnick, of course, is already in on the plan to bust Katniss out," they said, stating that they got a laugh out of the subtle hint.
Connections to Julius Caesar
The entire Hunger Games series has its roots in Ancient Rome and the gladiator fights at the colosseum. But Redditor PremiereAces noticed that the names and themes of the series also directly "references to Shakespeare's Julius Caesar," which is a play about conspirators who murder a Roman dictator to stop him from gaining more power.
Several names from the series are straight from the play, such as Cinna, Flavius, Octavius, Brutus, and Portia. Some of the fates of Shakespeare's characters even foreshadow the fates of their counterparts, such as Cinna, who like the poet from the play, was murdered as a result of the growing conflict.
President Coin
When audiences first meet President Coin, she seems like the perfect alternative to President Snow. She seems fair and comionate but quickly begins to change when she feels that Katniss is threatening her authority. In the end, she is revealed to be just as ruthless as Snow, just with different methods.
SLPinonthesidewalk noticed that Coin's name might have been a hint about her true nature. Collins loved to give characters names that foreshadow their significance and this Redditor noticed that District 13's President is "named Coin because she and Snow are two sides to the same coin."
Gale's Weakness
Throughout The Hunger Games, Katniss struggles to choose between two men in her life: Gale and Peeta. Both love her and treat her well, and both bring out a different side of Katniss. However, after Gale's ruthless need for vengeance results in the death of Katniss' sister, she is unable to forgive him.
a major strength for Katniss, but Gale took it too far.
The Star-Crossed Lovers
During the 10th Hunger Games described in the prequel, Lucy Gray, whom Coriolanus Snow mentored, allies herself with her District partner, Jessup, and the two become a popular pairing for the Capitol citizens. However, during the Game, Jessup goes mad from rabies and tries to kill Lucy Gray. As this is happening, Snow wonders how the "star-crossed lovers" trying to kill each other will affect the audiences' perspective of them.
Redditor The Hunger Games series often quoted Katniss and Peeta as star-crossed overs, so the use of the same terminology was likely not a coincidence.
The Tribute Tower
In The Hunger Games, the tributes bound for the games stay in a building called the Tribute Tower. It has 12 floors, one for each district, with District 12 in the penthouse. From this apartment, there is access to the roof, which is covered in gardens.
Redditor Coriolanus Snow's childhood home without knowing it.
The Significant Date Of The Reapings
Audiences are first exposed to the reaping ceremony when Katniss volunteers to take her place. Katniss and Peeta also watch several recordings of other reapings over the years, but the date of the ceremonies is never discussed.
However, Redditors like Minime6283 noticed that Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes subtly informed audiences of the traditional date of the reapings. "My favorite revelation [was] July 4th," this Redditor said. As it turns out, American Independence Day evolved to become the official start of the Hunger Games for Panem.
Avox Etymology
"Avox" is a term unique to The Hunger Games series. It is used to describe those who have been punished for a crime by having their tongues removed and put into slavery within the Capitol. This is the highest level of shame for a citizen, and regular citizens are forbidden to talk to them.
Redditor DragonQueen777666 pointed out that while Suzanne Collins had invented the word, it was not without reason. "a- which means 'without' and -vox which is Latin for 'voice,'" they said, "So Avoxes are people without voices."
The Origin Of Nightlock Berries
The nightlock berries are another invention of The Hunger Games' author. But some Redditors, like Keegan320, noticed the Collins likely got the name by combining the names of two other very poisonous plants, "Deadly Nightshade and Poison Hemlock."
This suggests that in the few hundred years between now and the future that The Hunger Games takes place, these two plants were combined, either naturally or with human intervention, to create a whole new and very deadly plant.
