Lionsgate just announced another major cast member for Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Oscar nominated actor Ralph Fiennes will officially play President Snow.

The character, key to the world of The Hunger Games, was previously portrayed by Donald Sutherland in the original film series. Recently, Tom Blythe played the younger version of Coriolanus Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

“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 Sunrise on the Reaping 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.”

Sunrise on the Reaping, author Suzanne Collins’ latest book in the Hunger Games world, recently released in March. But the highly anticipated novel sold over 1.5 million copies within its first week of release.

The story revisits the world of Panem twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. For fans of the franchise, these games are known as Haymitch Abernathy’s.

Fiennes joins previously announced cast members Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, and Ben Wang in the film.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping comes from returning franchise director Francis Lawrence, and a screenplay adapted by Billy Ray.

The feature will premiere in theaters next year, on November 20, 2026.

So, what do you think about Fiennes joining The Hunger Games franchise as the latest iteration of Snow? Let us know in the comments below. Meanwhile, check back to THS for more updates on the film.

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