Ralph Fiennes has been cast as President Coriolanus Snow in Lionsgate's eagerly awaited adaptation of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. This exciting announcement was shared today via the official Hunger Games X/Twitter account. Fiennes joins a prestigious lineup of actors in the Hunger Games saga, taking on a role pivotal to the franchise's narrative.
Ralph Fiennes. Image credit Daniele Venturelli/WireImage.The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set in the timeline between the prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes released in 2023, and the original four Hunger Games films featuring Jennifer Lawrence. The earlier prequel showcased a young Coriolanus Snow, portrayed by Tom Blyth, as he evolves into the ruthless leader of Panem, a role famously played by Donald Sutherland in the original series. In Sunrise on the Reaping, Fiennes will portray a middle-aged Snow, focusing on the story of District 12's tribute and eventual victor, Haymitch Abernathy.
Producer Nina Jacobson expressed her enthusiasm for Fiennes' casting, stating, "We wanted to honor Donald Sutherland by having one of this generation’s greatest actors play President Snow 24 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the arena. Working with Ralph has been on my bucket list since he traumatized me for life in Schindler's List. It’s genuinely a thrill to welcome him to the Hunger Games."
While Fiennes' casting might be one of the most anticipated announcements for Sunrise on the Reaping, he is not the only exciting addition to the cast. Jesse Plemons, known for his roles in Breaking Bad and Civil War, has been revealed to play a younger version of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman's character, Plutarch Heavensbee. Additionally, Joseph Zada, recognized from Total Control and Invisible Boys, will take on the role of Haymitch.
President Snow.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – in theaters November 20, 2026. pic.twitter.com/mj9gXk1hTt
— The Hunger Games (@TheHungerGames) May 16, 2025
Adapted from Suzanne Collins’ novel released in 2025, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is slated for a theatrical release on November 20, 2026. The film will be directed by series veteran Francis Lawrence, with a screenplay penned by the original Hunger Games writer, Billy Ray. The project was announced last summer, followed by a teaser trailer released in April of this year.
