Renowned actor Ralph Fiennes has been cast as President Coriolanus Snow in Lionsgate's upcoming film, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The exciting news was shared through the official Hunger Games X/Twitter account, marking yet another significant casting announcement for the eagerly awaited adaptation.
Set in the timeline between the four main Hunger Games movies starring Jennifer Lawrence and the earlier prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes released in 2023, Sunrise on the Reaping delves into the life of President Snow at a pivotal moment. While Tom Blyth portrayed a young Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and Donald Sutherland masterfully played the older version in the original series, Fiennes will bring to life a middle-aged Snow. The story focuses on the journey of District 12's tribute and eventual victor, Haymitch Abernathy.
Producer Nina Jacobson expressed her enthusiasm about 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' announcement has sparked considerable excitement among fans, he is not the only high-profile casting for Sunrise on the Reaping. Jesse Plemons, known for his roles in Breaking Bad and Civil War, will portray a younger version of the character played by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, Plutarch Heavensbee. Additionally, Joseph Zada, recognized from Total Control and Invisible Boys, is set to star 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 adapts Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel of the same name and is slated for release on November 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence, a veteran of the series, will direct, with the screenplay penned by original Hunger Games writer Billy Ray. The film was announced last summer, followed by a teaser trailer released in April of this year.
