Lionsgate’s 'Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' just added an actor with enough star quality to carry the film.

Peter Dinklage has been recruited to the 'Hunger Games' prequel film, set to play a key character in the continuation of the fantasy series initially led by Jennifer Lawrence.

Dinklage will play a character named Casca Highbottom, who is the Dean of The Academy and right-hand man to Coriolanus Snow. Those who are familiar with the books will know that The Academy is an elite secondary school in the Capitol where all of the wealthy and powerful parents send their little bratty children.

Francis Lawrence, who directed three out of the four 'Hunger Games' films, is on board once again to direct the prequel. The filmmaker said of Dinklage's character: "Dean Highbottom is one of the most powerful people in Snow’s life. As the austere and vindictive face of the games, he sets the rules that will determine every aspect of Coriolanus’ fate. I’m thrilled that Peter will be bringing him to life."

Peter Dinklage is the newest actor to join 'Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes', which will be based on the Suzanne Collins book of the same name, released in 2020. Tom Blyth (HBO's 'The Gilded Age') will play the role of an 18-year-old Snow, following the eventual big bad of the franchise during his young adult years. He is tasked with mentoring a tribute for the upcoming 10th edition of The Hunger Games, Lucy Gray Baird, who will be played by Rachel Zegler ('West Side Story').

The rest of the cast also includes Hunter Schafer ('Euphoria'), Snow's cousin Tigris; Jason Schwartzman ('Rushmore') as Lucretius "Lucky" Flickerman; Laurel Marsden ('Ms. Marvel') as Mayfair Lipp; and Josh Andrés Rivera ('West Side Story') as Sejanus Plinth.

Peter Dinklage can now add the 'Hunger Games' series to the long list of big-budget franchises he has been a part of. He became a household name by playing Tyrion Lannister in 'Game of Thrones'; he also joined played Bolivar Trask in 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'; he played King of the Dwarves, Eitri, in 'Avengers: Infinity War'; Trumpkin in 'Narnia: Prince Caspian'; and he's also lent his voice to animated films such as 'Ice Age', 'The Angry Birds Movie' and 'The Croods: A New Age'.