Tom Blyth Was Told Not to Do This While Preparing to Play Young Coriolanus Snow in 'Hunger Games' Prequel

There was one major note that The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence had for Tom Blyth.

The 28-year-old Billy the Kid actor is set to play Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the same character that Donald Sutherland brought to life as president of Panem in the original movies.

While Tom is playing the younger version of President Snow, there was one thing that Francis didn’t want him to do for his portrayal.

Check out what he didn’t want…

“I didn’t want him to study early Donald Sutherland performances,” Francis told EW. “I didn’t want it to be mimicry in any way. I wanted him to play the part in the way that he would play the part.”

If you didn’t know, Francis also directed all of the original Hunger Games movies, except for the first one, so he has worked with Donald as the older version of Coriolanus.

Producer Nina Jacobson added that Tom‘s performance in the movie is extraordinary.

“Tom is extraordinary as the turn happens,” she said. “As he starts to break bad, as you start to see the man that he becomes breaking out of the shell of the man that he might’ve been, it’s incredibly gratifying.”

If you missed it, Francis also shared more about how Rachel Zegler was cast in the movie.

Be sure to check out the new trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which features a cameo voice appearance by Donald. The upcoming film debuts in theaters this November!