Hunter Schafer hopes the role in The Hunger Games will open up trans representation in Hollywood
Hunter Schafer, one of the stars of the Hunger Games prequel, hopes her role will help increase trans representation in Hollywood.
The dystopian YA genre is currently enjoying a renaissance thanks to the upcoming Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Based on the work of Suzanne Collins, the film takes place decades before the original trilogy and gives fans a glimpse into the backstory of Coriolanus Snow, the eventual President of Panem and archenemy of Katiness Everdeen.
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The cast of the prequel is quite diverse: Rachel Zegler plays the main character Lucy Gray Baird and Hunter Schafer plays Tigirs. And Schäfer recently spoke about how she sees her participation in the Hunger Games as a stepping stone for trans representation.
Schäfer sees the role of The Hunger Games as a step in a “good direction”
The actress recently spoke to Pink News about her role in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and how she sees its impact on the trans community.
Schafer plays Tigris Snow, the older cousin of Coriolanus and his closest confidante as their family is torn apart during the decades-long war with the Districts. In the original trilogy, Tigris is part of the resistance and helps Katniss in the final film.
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“This is really great. In general, [it’s] “My first film that came out, and it starts off with a bang,” Schafer said. “The way Hollywood treats my community reassures me that we are on the right track.”
Schafer’s assumptions appear to be correct, as other trans actors have appeared in some of this year’s biggest films, including Patti Harrison in Theater Camp, Hari Nef in Barbie and Zoe Terakes in Talk To Me.
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With so many transgender actors appearing in so many films this year, 2023 is already head and shoulders above transgender representation in 2022, where “Bros” account for 80% of transgender characters in the top 100 top-grossing films made up.
Hopefully Hollywood can continue this trend and cast more LGBTQ actors in its bigger blockbuster films.
“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” premieres worldwide on November 17th. Read more about the film below:
