Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Viola Davis to play Villain in 'Hunger Games' Prequel

‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’, a prequel to ‘The Hunger Games’ from Lionsgate, stars Viola Davis as Villain.

Viola Davis to play Villain in 'Hunger Games' Prequel

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Davis will take on the role of Dr Volumnia Gaul, the principal game designer for the tenth Hunger Games. She joins Rachel Zegler, who portrays heroine Lucy Gray Baird from the underprivileged District 12, and Tom Blyth, who will play the juvenile Coriolanus Snow. Josh Andres Rivera, Peter Dinklage, and Hunter Schafer are some of the additionally announced actors.

The prequel's synopsis reads: "Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.


But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem's attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favour. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy's race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird and a snake."

Along with franchise producer Nina Jacobson and her partner Brad Simpson, Francis Lawrence, who oversaw the direction of three of the four Hunger Games movies, is back in charge and will also serve as producer.

Tim Palen and Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins are executive producers. The studio's overseers are Meredith Wieck and Scott O'Brien.

"The Hunger Games films have always been elevated by their exceptional casting, and we are thrilled to be continuing that tradition with Viola Davis as Volumnia Gaul. Her formidable and powerful presence will add layers of complexity and menace to this story," said Nathan Kahane, president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

"Dr Gaul is as cruel as she is creative and as fearsome as she is formidable. Snow's savvy as a political operator develops in no small part due to his experiences with her as the games' most commanding figure," said Lawrence.

"From the beginning, Viola has been our dream for Dr Gaul because of the finely layered intelligence and emotion she brings to every role. A brilliant and eccentric strategist, Gaul is instrumental in shaping a young Coriolanus Snow into the man he will become. We are incredibly fortunate to have an actor with Viola's extraordinary range and presence to play this pivotal role", Jacobson added.

The Woman King, which Davis also produced under her JuVee Productions and for which she has won an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony, will be her next film role. Before being released in theatres by Sony, the film will make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Other anticipated on-screen appearances include Black Adam, in which she will reprise her role as DC character Amanda Waller, and the Amazon project starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon called Nike Air Jordan, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

CAA, Lasher Group, and Lichter Grossman are Davis' agents.

(PTI)

More For You

Shefali Jariwala

Shefali Jariwala dies at 42 after cardiac arrest in Mumbai hospital

Instagram/shefalijariwala

Kaanta Laga star Shefali Jariwala dies of cardiac arrest at 42, postmortem underway in Mumbai

Quick highlights:

  • Actor and model Shefali Jariwala passed away late Friday night in Mumbai at the age of 42.
  • She was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital after a cardiac arrest but was declared dead on arrival.
  • The Kaanta Laga star was married to actor Parag Tyagi, who was seen grieving outside the hospital.
  • Mumbai Police and forensic teams are investigating, with an official cause of death yet to be confirmed.

Actor and television personality Shefali Jariwala, who rose to fame with the early 2000s music video Kaanta Laga, has died following a sudden cardiac arrest. The 42-year-old was declared dead at Bellevue Hospital in Mumbai late on Friday night, 28 June. Her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, reportedly rushed her to the hospital around midnight with the help of close friends.

Despite immediate medical attention, doctors could not revive her. A hospital source confirmed she was “dead on arrival” at 11:27 pm. Her death has left friends, fans, and colleagues in shock, as many described her as healthy, cheerful, and actively working.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kamal Haasan, Ayushmann Khurrana and Payal Kapadia

Kamal Haasan Ayushmann Khurrana and Payal Kapadia invited to Oscars Academy in global list of 534 members

Getty Images

Kamal Haasan, Ayushmann Khurrana and Payal Kapadia invited to Oscars voting body

Quick highlights:

  • Kamal Haasan, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Payal Kapadia among Indian invitees to the Academy’s 2025 voting class
  • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extends membership to 534 new global members
  • Other Indian honourees include Maxima Basu, Ranabir Das, and Smriti Mundhra
  • Hollywood invitees include Ariana Grande, Conan O’Brien, Jason Momoa, and Jodie Comer

Veteran actor Kamal Haasan, critically acclaimed star Ayushmann Khurrana, and All We Imagine as Light director Payal Kapadia have been invited to join the Oscars Academy’s 2025 voting body. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended invitations to 534 new members from across the globe, recognising diverse contributions to cinema across disciplines.

Keep ReadingShow less
Prabhas Kalki 2898 AD anniversary

Kalki 2898 AD showcased Prabhas in a genre-blending sci-fi mythological role

One year of 'Kalki 2898 AD': How Prabhas reminded everyone he’s still the pan-India superstar

It’s been a year since Kalki 2898 AD hit theatres, and whether you loved it, questioned it, or are still figuring out what you watched, one thing’s clear: it cemented Prabhas’ place at the top. A unique experiment packed with mythology, sci-fi, and big-screen ambition, Kalki didn’t just push boundaries—it made sure everyone was paying attention.

Here’s how Kalki quietly reinforced what audiences across India (and beyond) already suspected: Prabhas isn’t going anywhere.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anusha Mani playback

Anusha Mani

gettyimages

Anusha Mani: From playback to primetime

Anusha Mani’s artistic journey has been anything but conventional. Revered as the velvety voice behind Bollywood chartbusters like Lazy Lamhe, Tera Rastaa Chhodoon Na, and the irrepressibly catchy Gulaabo, she has carved out a distinctive niche for herself as a singer, lyricist, and now actress.

With a foundation in Indian classical and Carnatic music, and a career launched by a serendipitous meeting with Shankar Mahadevan, Anusha’s rise to prominence has been a blend of talent, timing, and tenacity.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez host Venice wedding

Getty Images

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's star-studded £38 million wedding begins in Venice

Quick highlights:

  • Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding celebrations kick off in Venice with around 200 high-profile guests.
  • Celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, the Kardashians, Oprah, and Bill Gates have arrived.
  • The three-day celebration is expected to cost £43–51 million (₹427–506 crore).
  • Venice locals protest the event, accusing the billionaire couple of turning the city into a playground for the elite.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and media personality Lauren Sánchez have begun their lavish wedding festivities in Venice, Italy, drawing a guest list that reads like the Oscars after-party. The ultra-exclusive, multi-day affair has transformed the floating city into a buzzing hub of private yachts, paparazzi, and tight security.

Keep ReadingShow less