Lionsgate has officially revealed new additions to the Sunrise on the Reaping cast during their CineEurope presentation, and it’s an impressive lineup.
Oscar-nominated actress Glenn Close and Emmy-winner Billy Porter are joining the world of The Hunger Games in roles that promise both drama and flair.
Close is set to play Drusilla Sickle, the icy and cruel escort to the District 12 tributes. Known for roles in Fatal Attraction and The Wife, Close brings a chilling elegance to the Capitol. Her character is said to take pride in parading her tributes while barely disguising her disdain for the poverty-stricken district she represents.
Billy Porter takes on the role of Magno Stift, Drusilla’s estranged husband and the creatively exhausted designer for District 12. Best known for his work in Pose and on Broadway, Porter’s character is expected to add some Capitol theatrics, and tension, especially in scenes opposite Close.
These casting announcements follow the reveal that Succession star Kieran Culkin will step into the shoes of Caesar Flickerman, the flashy TV host originally played by Stanley Tucci. Also joining the Sunrise on the Reaping cast is Joseph Zada, who will lead as young Haymitch Abernathy, the tribute who survives the 50th Hunger Games, an event known as the “Second Quarter Quell.”
Whitney Peak has been cast as Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s girlfriend, while Maya Hawke will portray Wiress, a former Games victor now serving as a mentor to District 12’s tributes. Mckenna Grace joins the cast as Maysilee Donner, another District 12 tribute and a key figure in Haymitch’s past.
Additional cast members include Jesse Plemons as Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as tech-savvy Beetee, and Ben Wang as tribute Wyatt Callow. Rounding out the cast is Ralph Fiennes, who will take on the iconic role of President Coriolanus Snow, played in the past by Donald Sutherland and Tom Blyth.
Producer Nina Jacobson shared her excitement about casting Fiennes, saying, “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 Schindler’s List.”
Directed by franchise veteran Francis Lawrence and written by Billy Ray, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is based on Suzanne Collins’ upcoming novel, which drops in 2025. The film is scheduled to hit theaters in November 2026.
Set two decades before Katniss’s revolution, Sunrise on the Reaping follows a 16-year-old Haymitch as he’s thrown into a brutal arena where the Capitol doubles the tributes, and the stakes. As Haymitch fights for survival, he begins to see just how deep the Capitol’s cruelty runs.
Fans of the franchise can expect a dark, gripping chapter in the Hunger Games universe with a powerful ensemble and high emotional stakes.
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