Ralph Fiennes has been cast as President Coriolanus Snow in Lionsgate's latest adaptation, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The announcement was made today via the official Hunger Games X/Twitter account, adding Fiennes to the list of highly anticipated casting reveals for the film. His role is pivotal, as he steps into the shoes of one of the franchise's most iconic characters.
Sunrise on the Reaping is set in the timeline between the four main Hunger Games movies, which featured Jennifer Lawrence, and the early prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, released in 2023. The prequel explored a young Snow, portrayed by Tom Blyth, as he evolved into the ruthless leader, a role famously played by Donald Sutherland in the original films. Fiennes' portrayal will depict President Snow at a different stage of his life, focusing on the story of District 12 tribute and future victor, Haymitch Abernathy.
Producer Nina Jacobson expressed her excitement about Fiennes joining the cast, 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 has generated significant buzz, he's not the only exciting addition to the film. Jesse Plemons, known for his roles in Breaking Bad and Civil War, will portray a young version of Plutarch Heavensbee, originally played by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Additionally, Joseph Zada, from Total Control and Invisible Boys, has been cast as 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
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is an adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel and is set to premiere in theaters on November 20, 2026. The film will be directed by series veteran Francis Lawrence and written by the original Hunger Games screenwriter, Billy Ray. The project was announced last summer, with a teaser trailer released in April this year.
