'The Hunger Games' prequel director thinks Lucy Gray could be connected to a 'Mockingjay' character — but it's not Katniss

• Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead for "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes."
• Fan theories posit that Lucy Gray Baird may be a relative of Katniss Everdeen or President Coin.

Rachel Zegler plays the mysterious Lucy Gray Baird in "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes."

Since the prequel book's release in 2020, fans have long thought District 12's songbird could be a relative of the original trilogy's Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence in the movies).

Others believe she could be related to the franchise's President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) who eventually leads a rebellion to overthrow Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the series' final two "Mockingjay" movies.

"I've heard both theories," "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" director Francis Lawrence told Business Insider. "Lucy Gray, I can say, is definitely not a relative of Katniss."

Instead, Lawrence, who has directed four of five "Hunger Games" movies, believes another character in "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" shares a bloodline with Katniss.

"I can say without complete certainty that I do think that Maude Ivory is supposed to be sort of an ancestor," Lawrence said of Lucy Gray's bandmate and cousin who is briefly seen in the prequel film.

Who is Lucy Gray?

As for Lucy Gray, Lawrence didn't outright dismiss any potential ties to Coin, the leader of District 13.

"Without any sort of spoilers — because Lucy Gray sort of remains a mystery at the end — connections to 13, to Coin? Sure," Lawrence said, adding, "I don't think she is Coin, by any means. I don't want to spoil it because obviously there's mystery to Lucy Gray."

If anyone may have an inkling of the character's family tree, other than Suzanne Collins, it may be Lawrence. The pair worked closely on the last four movie adaptations.

But, as Lawrence said, it doesn't make sense for Lucy Gray to be President Coin.

In "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," love interests Lucy Gray and Coriolanus Snow are two years apart in age. Lucy Gray is 16 while Coriolanus is 18 during the 10th Hunger Games.

When the 75th Hunger Games takes place in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," Snow is presumably 83. Lucy Gray would've been 81.

In "The Hunger Games" books, Katniss describes President Coin as appearing about 50, which would make her too young to be Lucy Gray. However, it doesn't mean Coin isn't related to the former District 12 tribute.

Lucy Gray could be President Coin's mother or relative

Though the math may be off for Lucy Gray and Coin to be one and the same, it's possible Lucy Gray could've given birth to the leader of the second rebellion which helped take Snow down.

Otherwise, it's possible they could have shared a family tree.

No one knows what happened to Lucy Gray at the end of "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes." After a fallout with Snow, she simply disappeared never to be seen again, at least not as Lucy Gray.

It would be incredibly fitting if Lucy Gray's daughter or relative eventually sought revenge on Snow and succeeded.

"I thought that was a hot take," Nick Benson told Business Insider at an LA fan screening. The actor plays Lucy Gray's fellow District 12 tribute Jessup in "The Hunger Games" prequel.

A fan of the franchise who read the prequel after getting cast, Benson initially thought Lucy Gray may be Katniss' grandmother until we shared the Alma Coin theory.

"I change my answer," Benson said. "I think I agree with you."

When asked if Lucy Gray's story is over or if we could see more of it play out on-screen one day, Lawrence said he wasn't sure.

"I don't know," Lawrence said. "That's entirely up to Suzanne."

"Not even just with Lucy Gray, but with any of the characters," he added. "To me, it's always just up to Suzanne whether or not there's more story."