Casting for the upcoming prequel The Hunger Games is taking shape.
It was announced Wednesday that West Side Story actor Josh Andrés Rivera has officially joined the cast of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents, according to The Wrap.
This latest casting comes just over two weeks after it was announced that Rivera’s West Side Story co-star Rachel Zegler, who also happens to be his real-life girlfriend, has been hired to play Lucy Gray in the upcoming dystopian film.
New role: West Side Story actor Josh Andrés Rivera, 27, has been added to the cast of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents, the fifth installment in the Hunger Games film series
In the fifth installment of the Hunger Games film series, Rivera will play the role of Sejanus Plinth, the mentor of a District 2 tribute and a close friend of young Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth.
“Loyalties will be tested,” read the caption on the franchise’s official Instagram page, before posting, “Josh Andrés Rivera has been cast as Sejanus Plinth in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents.” – hits theaters in November 2023.’
In the film, Coriolanus Snow is not only a mentor, but also develops feelings for the District 12 female tribute during the 10th Hunger Games.
“I’ve never been prouder of anyone in my life,” Zegler, 21, wrote on her Instagram Story, along with a red heart emoji, as she shared the news that her boyfriend was cast in the prequel The Hunger Games. was hired, directed by Franz Laurent.
Teaser: The official Instagram account for the Hunger Games franchise revealed “loyalties will be tested” when it was announced that Rivera had joined the cast
Proud of her husband: Zegler shared how proud she was of her boyfriend when she received the news that he was joining the cast of the prequel The Hunger Games
The couple appeared to make their romance official on Instagram on Valentine’s Day, when Zegler shared a black-and-white selfie photo of the couple on Instagram with the caption, “Committing Valen crimes.” And then, in a video on her Instagram Story, Rivera fed them over dinner together and wrote, “Happy Love Day from me n mine.”
Zegler has since regularly shared their budding romance on her Instagram page, including on May 1 when she wished her new husband a happy birthday.
“You are everything I love about this world wrapped in an incredible man. Happy birthday Joshua. in this life i like to do laundry and tax with you.’ The New Jersey native gushed about her new man in the caption of a video in which they stare into each other’s eyes.
Instagram official: The couple appeared to be going official with their romance with a post from Zegler on Instagram on Valentine’s Day, February 14
The official announcement that Zegler had joined the cast of the prequel The Hunger Games came on May 31st.
“It’s written in the stars. Rachel Zegler has been cast as Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes arriving in theaters November 2023,” the caption read, along with a photo of the actress.
Zegler, and now Rivera, joins the cast, which Deadline said earlier this week already included Jerome Lance as Marcus, the District 2 tribute. Also, Ashley Liao will play Clemensia Dovecote, one of Coriolanus’ closest friends and mentor of a District 11 tribute; Knox Gibson has the role of Bobbin, District 8 Tribute; and Aamer Husain plays Felix Ravinstill, mentor in a District 11 tribute.
Socializing: Zegler has been sharing updates about the couple, including this birthday wish, since he officially took to Instagram last Valentine’s Day, February 14
The film franchise, based on the best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins, was a smash hit at the box office and has grossed more than $3 billion to date.
The first of the four films, The Hunger Games (2012), starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark respectively, was a hit, grossing a whopping $694.4 million against a budget of $78 million.
The sequel The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) was also a hit with fans, grossing $865 million against a budget of $130-$140 million.
The last two films saw box office declines but were still massive moneymakers, with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) grossing $755.4 million on a budget of $125-$140 million and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015) with over $658 million on a budget of $160 million.
The highly anticipated prequel is set to premiere in theaters on November 17, 2023.
Cast members of West Side Story: Rivera and Zegler last appeared together in West Side Story, which also included Ansel Elgort as part of the main cast
Hot and Heavy: After seemingly officially taking to Instagram on Valentine’s Day, Zegler hasn’t been shy about posting updates about himself and Rivera