The weather could be described as post-apocalyptic, but the venue was a bit more glamorous as London’s BFI Waterloo hosted the UK premiere of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
On a freezing night in the English capital, an American cast more familiar with the balmy California sun gathered to celebrate the highly anticipated release of the new film.
Set in a bleak dystopian future, director Francis Lawrence’s socially conscious sci-fi fantasy takes place approximately 64 years before the events of the first film in the popular franchise – the 2012 blockbuster The Hunger Games.
And as usual, leading ladies Rachel Zegler and Hunter Schafer looked exceptional as they greeted viewers outside the venue in south-east London.
Rachel, 22, inevitably attracted attention in a flowing black evening dress with sheer lace detailing as she posed for photos after making her way from the Corinthia Hotel to the BFI.
Let the games begin: Rachel Zegler (l) and Hunter Schafer (r) led the glamor on the red carpet at the British premiere of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” on Thursday night
Stunning: 22-year-old Rachel inevitably attracted attention in a flowing black evening dress with sheer lace details
Radiant: Hunter, 24, went racy in a gold crop bralet with short sleeves and a plunging neckline
Rachel’s sleeveless garment featured a high collar, while she enhanced her figure with a pair of black boots.
The actress styled her tresses into loose curls and completed her look with a pair of statement silver earrings.
Hunter, 24, looked racy in a gold bustier with short sleeves and a plunging neckline.
The top highlighted her toned stomach and the film star paired it with a matching slit-leg skirt.
Hunter styled her blonde locks into a sleek updo and enhanced her natural beauty with a light makeup palette.
Meanwhile, Maura Higgins looked nothing short of sensational as she attended the event in a slinky gold dress.
The figure-hugging garment featured long sleeves and a matching hood, with the Love Island star wearing her brunette locks slicked back.
Also in attendance at the premiere was Tallia Storm, who effortlessly turned heads in a black low-cut mini dress with a plunging neckline.
Wow: Maura Higgins looked nothing short of sensational as she attended the event in a slinky gold dress
Beautiful: The former “Love Island” star’s dress had a striking hood detail
Sultry: Lottie Moss cut a glamorous figure in a sheer mini dress that highlighted her incredible figure
Golden Girls: Sophie Hermann went for a daring look as she slipped into a bright gold strapless dress that showed off her toned pins
Looking good: Imogen Thomas showed off her figure in a skin-tight black long-sleeved jumpsuit, while Lizzie Cundy opted for a figure-hugging black catsuit
Style: Rachel’s sleeveless piece featured a high collar, while she enhanced her figure with a pair of black boots
Tallia highlighted her ample assets and accentuated her figure with thigh-high black boots and a matching jacket.
The singer accessorized her outfit with a silver necklace and completed her look with a pair of black leather gloves.
Imogen Thomas showed off her stunning figure in a skin-tight black long-sleeved jumpsuit.
The garment featured a floral pattern while the former Big Brother star paired it with black heels.
Lottie Moss cut a glamorous figure in a sheer mini dress that highlighted her incredible figure.
The revealing garment also featured a plunging neckline and tassel detailing on the chest.
Loved: “Love Island” stars Zachariah Noble and Molly Marsh attended the premiere together
Glamour: Vanessa Baur looked radiant as ever this evening as she walked the red carpet in a black dress with a daring leg slit
Fashion: Michelle Heaton wore a cream dress with shimmering sequin details and a sweetheart neckline
Red Carpet: Lady Victoria Hervey opted for a black, long-sleeved, shimmering dress
Elegant: Saffron Barker looked incredible in a black dress as she attended the premiere with rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit
Gorgeous: The TV personality’s evening dress highlighted her cleavage as she posed on the red carpet in London’s Waterloo
Don’t mind me: But Imogen Thomas was hard to miss during her recent red carpet appearance
Best in Black: Tallia Storm turned heads in a black cut mini dress with a plunging neckline, while Andrea Mclean opted for a classic black jumpsuit
Couple: Cally Jane Beech put on a stunning show alongside her fiancé DJ O’Neill
Lizzie Cundy made sure all eyes were on her as she arrived on the red carpet in a daring black catsuit.
The media personality also wore a pair of matching black boots and let her blonde tresses fall loosely over her shoulders.
Vanessa Baur looked radiant as ever that evening as she walked the red carpet in a black dress with a daring leg slit.
The garment also featured a cutout detail on the stomach, with the Dancing On Ice star also wearing black stilettos.
Sophie Hermann opted for a daring look, slipping into a bright gold strapless dress that showed off her toned pins.
Cozy: Rachel put on an adorable show with her boyfriend and co-star Josh Andres Rivera
Pose: Hunter’s top highlighted her toned stomach, the movie star paired it with a matching slit-leg skirt
Star: Actress Honor Gillies opted for a black sleeveless turtleneck dress
Couple: Former Union J star Josh Cuthbert attended the premiere with his wife Chloe Lloyd
In attendance: Inspirational Vanessa also made a red carpet appearance at Thursday’s event
The Made In Chelsea star also wore a matching scarf and a pair of chunky black ankle boots.
Michelle Heaton wore a cream dress with shimmering sequin details and a sweetheart neckline.
The dress also included a matching gray waist belt, while Michelle completed her look with a gold bracelet.
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a prequel set 64 years before the events of the original series. It shows the 10th annual Hunger Games, where mentors are introduced for the first time to make the competition appear more “illustrative.”
This is the story of the spark that lit the fire, and everything you know and love about The Hunger Games starts here!
Fans will remember Coriolanus Snow as the tyrannical President of Panem, but in this film Tom Blyth plays him as an 18-year-old man preparing for his only chance at glory as a mentor at the Games.
The odds are stacked against him as he has been given the humiliating task of mentoring District 12’s charismatic female tribute, Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler).
Their fates are now completely intertwined – every decision Coriolanus makes can lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. In the arena, the stakes couldn’t be higher as only one competitor made it out alive.
Forced to watch from the outside, Coriolanus begins to mourn his doomed tribute and must balance his need to follow the rules against his desire to help her survive, no matter the cost.
In “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” you delve deep into the cruel, corrupt and yet darkly fascinating state of Panem, with its dangerous political machinations that are strikingly current.
This is a world where all life hangs by a thread and every decision may be your last.