Rachel Zegler Sings “The Hanging Tree” for “Hunger Games” Prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”

Rachel Zegler is putting in the songbird in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The 22-year-old half-Colombian American Golden Globe-winning actress & singer’s vocals ring through on “The Hanging Tree,” the first song to be released as part of the upcoming film.

Rachel Zegler, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,The orchestral title, released via Geffen Records, first appeared as the second single from the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 in 2014. Jennifer Lawrence, who played Katniss Everdeen, offered her vocals for the track that was originally written by Suzanne Collins and composed by Howard, Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz from the band the Lumineers.

Audiences will witness the song’s origin in the upcoming 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), who strives to uplift 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 favorite, Lucy (Zegler). Coriolanus works with Lucy to keep her alive in the Hunger Games, as he begins to wobble between the concepts of good and evil.

Among the credits, The Hunger Games franchise director Francis Lawrence returns for the prequel film. Michael Lesslie wrote the screenplay, and Collins, Tim Palen and Jim Miller executive produce alongside producers Brad Simpson, Nina Jacobson and Lawrence.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”premieres in theaters on November 17.

Kid Cudi Featured on The Hunger Games Soundtrack

Kid Cudi may soon experience the same movie soundtrack success as Bruno Mars, who performed the lead single from the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 soundtrack.

The 28-year-old part-Mexican American rapper, singer-songwriter and actor appears on the just-released soundtrack for the highly anticipated The Hunger Games.

Kid Cudi

Cudi, whose real name is Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, performs The Ruler And The Killer.” The original track finds the Grammy-winning singer still in WZRD mode, with heavy drums and buzz-saw guitars propping up his pained groans and lurching hooks.

“I could not have done it with out my producing partners on the project for the film, The legendary and Godly T Bone Burnett and Greg Wells!” Cudi wrote on his Twitter page about his experience working on “The Ruler And The Killer.”

Produced by T-Bone Burnett, The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 is a collection of folk-leaning music from a hodgepodge of top-line artists. Along with Cudi, the 16-song soundtrack features Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars, Arcade Fire, Maroon 5, Miranda Lambert featuring Pistol Annies and Birdy.

Here’s a look at the full track list:

1. Arcade Fire, “Abraham’s Daughter”
2. The Secret Sisters, “Tomorrow Will Be Kinder”
3. Neko Case, “Nothing To Remember”
4. Taylor Swift featuring The Civil Wars, “Safe & Sound”
5. Kid Cudi, “The Ruler And The Killer”
6. Punch Brothers, “Dark Days”
7. The Decemberists, “One Engine”
8. The Carolina Chocolate Drops, “Daughter’s Lament”
9. The Civil Wars, “Kingdom Come”
10. Glen Hansard, “Take The Heartland”
11. Maroon 5 featuring Rozzi Crane, “Come Away To The Water”
12. Miranda Lambert featuring Pistol Annies, “Run Daddy Run”
13. Jayme Dee, “Rules”
14. Taylor Swift, “Eyes Open”
15. The Low Anthem, “Lover Is Childlike”
16. Birdy, “Just A Game”

First Watch: Mars’ “It Will Rain” Video

It’s time for Bruno Mars to experience what Twilight fever’s all about…

The 25-year-old half Puerto Rican crooner’s video for the lead single from the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 soundtrack is streaming now online.

Bruno Mars

Mars’ “It Will Rain” video isn’t necessarily a peek into the fourth installment of the international smash vampire movie franchise. Instead, with its soft-focus shots and faded lighting, it looks more like a commercial for Levi’s.

Some “Twilight Saga” footage of newlyweds Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) is featured briefly in the video, projected on a wall as Mars and his lover struggle through a break-up.

Meanwhile, the 15-track “Breaking Dawn” soundtrack, which features the first Spanish-language song on any Twilight film soundtrack, is on sale now.

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 opens nationwide on November 18.