Ralph Fiennes will play President Coriolanus Snow in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The film is set to release on November 20, 2026, and will explore the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. Fiennes takes over the role from Donald Sutherland, who played the character in the original films, and Tom Blyth, who portrayed a young Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
The new movie is based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel of the same name. It takes place 24 years before the events of the first Hunger Games book and follows Haymitch Abernathy’s journey as a tribute in the deadly competition. Joseph Zada will play the young Haymitch, originally portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the earlier films.
Fans are excited to see Fiennes bring his signature intensity to the role. The actor is known for playing iconic villains, including Voldemort in the Harry Potter series. His casting has been praised as a fitting tribute to Sutherland’s legacy.
“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.”
The film’s director, Francis Lawrence, has helmed every Hunger Games movie since Catching Fire (2013). Billy Ray, who co-wrote the script for the first film, returns to adapt Collins’ latest book. The story begins on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, showing how Haymitch’s victory shaped Panem’s future.
Alongside Fiennes, the cast includes Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s girlfriend, and Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, a fellow District 12 tribute. Jesse Plemons will play a young Plutarch Heavensbee, the future Head Gamemaker, originally portrayed by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Other key cast members include Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, and Lili Taylor as Mags. These characters were previously seen in Catching Fire, played by Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Plummer, and Lynn Cohen, respectively.
The Hunger Games franchise has earned over $3.3 billion worldwide. The last prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, was a box office success despite mixed reviews. Fans are eager to see how Sunrise on the Reaping expands the dystopian world.
Rachel Zegler, who starred opposite Tom Blyth in the 2023 prequel, reacted to Fiennes’ casting with humor. “Not my movie ex being Voldemort,” she joked on social media. Fans also shared their excitement, calling Fiennes the “ultimate movie villain.”
Production is expected to begin later this year. The movie will delve into Haymitch’s backstory, including his relationship with Lenore and the tragic events that turned him into the bitter mentor seen in the original series.
Also Read: Hunger Games Fans Spot Hidden Easter Eggs in Lionsgate’s New Casting Announcements; SEE DETAILS
Credits: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, BuzzFeed, NME, Wikipedia
