Stars of the next 'Hunger Games' meet fans in New York

STORY: The film, which was offered a waiver so the cast could promote it during the Hollywood actor's strike, hopes to strengthen interest in the original franchise with more detailed backstories as well as tell a new original tale.

The stars included Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth and Josh Andres Rivera, who all took time to sign autographs and snap selfies with franchise fans.

"I'm currently reading (the book), so I want to read it before I watch the movie. So I'm very excited for the movie," said fan Isabelle Lynott.

Olivia Rodrigo, who was not in attendance for the unveiling, addressed the fans in Times Square via a special message broadcast on a jumbotron.

It's been eight years since 'The Hunger Games' franchise, with Jennifer Lawrence in the lead, ended, but now the games are back with the prequel.

The film's central character is Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), who fans of the series will know is the villainous dictator played by Donald Sutherland in the original films. He is a young graduating student trying to keep his father's ailing estate alive alongside his cousin Tigris and his Grandma'am.

Keen to be top of his class, Snow will do anything to succeed and begins by agreeing to mentor one of the contestants in The Hunger Games, songstress Lucy Gray Baird, played by Rachel Zegler.

'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' will be in theaters on November 17 in the United States.