Rachel Zegler Stuns in Fiery Dress at Hunger Games Prequel Premiere, Channeling Katniss Everdeen

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Rachel Zegler ignited the red carpet at Zoo Palast in Berlin, Germany, on Sunday, for the Berlin premiere of Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The 22-year-old actress, who takes on the role of Lucy Gray Baird in the prequel, paid a stylish tribute to the iconic Katniss Everdeen, initially portrayed by Hunger Games lead star Jennifer Lawrence.

Rachel Zegler paying a stylish homage to Katniss Everdeen at the premiere of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in BerlinRachel Zegler paying a stylish homage to Katniss Everdeen at the premiere of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in Berlin, Germany on November 5, 2023 (Credit: Christian Behring / Future Image / Cover Images)

For this special occasion, Zegler graced the event in a stunning black Alexander McQueen Ghost Orchid evening dress from the British luxury fashion house’s Fall 2023 collection, nodding to the fiery fashion from the original films.

Perfectly fitting the movie’s dramatic mood and theme, the strapless gown featured a unique jagged neckline that gracefully transitioned into a fiery red patterned mermaid tail at the bottom that resembled flames, reminiscent of Katniss’ famous “Girl on Fire” dress.

Rachel Zegler wearing a stunning Alexander McQueen Fall 2023 Ghost Orchid evening dress with a striking jagged neckline and a red patterned mermaid tail at the bottomRachel Zegler wearing a stunning Alexander McQueen Fall 2023 Ghost Orchid evening dress with a striking jagged neckline and a red patterned mermaid tail at the bottom (Credit: Nicole Kubelka / Future Image / Cover Images)

The Shazam! Fury of the Gods star’s choice of attire beautifully channeled the unforgettable moment when Katniss donned a white layered tulle wedding gown, crafted by her stylist Cinna, portrayed by Lenny Kravitz, before entering the Hunger Games arena for the second time.

In the Catching Fire movie, Lawrence’s character spun around, and her ensemble transformed into a black Mockingjay dress, symbolizing the rebellion as it burst into flames at the bottom.

Under the hem of her dress, Zegler added height to her petite frame with a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti sandal heels.

She kept her accessories understated with Chopard jewels, letting the dress steal the show. Zegler sported silver hoop earrings and adorned her wrist with a single royal-blue bracelet, along with a ring on her right index finger.

Rachel Zegler’s beauty look consisted of smokey brown eye makeup, dark red lips, wavy raven tresses, and Chopard jewelsRachel Zegler’s beauty look consisted of smokey brown eye makeup, dark red lips, wavy raven tresses, and Chopard jewels (Credit: Nicole Kubelka / Future Image / Cover Images)

Zegler’s makeup exuded elegance with dramatic dark red lipstick, smokey brown eyeshadow, bold brows, and bronzed skin, perfectly complementing her long, raven tresses. Her hair was elegantly tucked behind her ears, parted in the middle, and cascading down in waves.

Her co-star, Tom Blyth, who plays young Coriolanus Snow in the movie, the 18-year-old mentor to Lucy Gray Baird from District 12 and eventually becomes the villainous president in the trilogy, accompanied her on the red carpet.

The 28-year-old actor chose a sleek and minimalistic look, pairing a trendy oversized black suit with a simple black T-shirt. He completed the outfit with loose pants and chunky black boots accentuated by a silver chain.

Rachel Zegler with co-star Tom Blyth in an oversized black suit with a black T-shirt, loose pants, chunky black boots, and a silver chainRachel Zegler with co-star Tom Blyth in an oversized black suit with a black T-shirt, loose pants, chunky black boots, and a silver chain (Credit: Nicole Kubelka / Future Image / Cover Images)

Despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, the cast chose not to cross the picket line and attended the event with a waiver granted a few weeks prior, as Lionsgate, the studio distributing the film, is not part of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Set 64 years before the events of the original series, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes delves into the 10th Annual Hunger Games, introducing the concept of making the contest more engaging.

Apart from Zegler and Blyth, the star-studded cast includes notable names like Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, Josh Andrés Rivera, and Viola Davis, each bringing their unique talents to the prequel film.

The highly anticipated prequel is set to hit cinemas and IMAX screens on November 17, offering fans a fresh perspective on the captivating world of Panem.