Ralph Fiennes will play President Snow in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The movie is based on Suzanne Collins’ latest book and follows the story of Haymitch Abernathy, the future mentor of Katniss Everdeen. Fiennes takes over the role from the late Donald Sutherland, who played Snow in the original films.
The film is set 24 years before the events of the first Hunger Games movie. It explores the 50th Hunger Games, where Haymitch becomes a tribute. The cast also includes Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, and Jesse Plemons as a young Plutarch Heavensbee.
Director Francis Lawrence, who worked on previous Hunger Games films, returns to helm this project. The script is written by Billy Ray, known for his work on Captain Phillips and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The movie is set to release on November 20, 2026.
“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,” said producer Nina Jacobson. “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.”
Fiennes is a three-time Oscar nominee, recently recognized for his role in Conclave. He is also known for playing Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series. His upcoming projects include 28 Years Later and The Choral.
The book Sunrise on the Reaping sold 1.5 million copies in its first week, making it the fastest-selling book in the Hunger Games series. The story focuses on political manipulation and media control in Panem, the dystopian nation where the games take place.
Other cast members include Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, and Maya Hawke as Wiress. Lili Taylor will play Mags, a previous Hunger Games winner.
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The movie will start filming in July 2025. Fans are excited to see how Fiennes portrays the younger version of President Snow, a character originally made famous by Donald Sutherland.
Source: Variety
