Sunrise on the Reaping cast: All the stars confirmed for Hunger Games prequel
The latest novel in the beloved series was only published this year – but the casting process for the upcoming film adaptation is already well underway.
The Hunger Games fans, assemble: Suzanne Collins's latest trip to Panem, Sunrise on the Reaping, is getting the big screen treatment.
Collins's book was only released in March, but production is already underway, and now the majority of the major casting announcements have been made.
Kieran Culkin is the latest big name to have been announced, with the star set to play host of the Hunger Games Caesar Flickerman – the role played in earlier films by Stanley Tucci – as had long been rumoured.
Culkin joins Elle Fanning, who's set to take on the role of Effie Trinket, and Ralph Fiennes, who will play the movie's main protagonist President Coriolanus Snow.
Other stars set to appear in the prequel, which is set 24 years before the events of the original trilogy, include Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
But who do they all play? And who is being rumoured for the other familiar roles? Read on for everything we know so far about the cast for Sunrise on the Reaping.
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Sunrise on the Reaping cast: Who's who in Hunger Games prequel?
- Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket
- Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow
- Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman
- Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy
- Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird
- Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner
- Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee
- Kelvin Harrison Jr as Beetee
- Maya Hawke as Wiress
- Lily Taylor as Mags
Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket
Who is Effie Trinket? The escort for District 12 played by Elizabeth Banks in the original films.
What else has Elle Fanning been in? Fans might recognise Fanning from her role as Catherine the Great on Hulu's The Great, while she also starred opposite Timothée Chalamet in last year's A Complete Unknown. She's also appeared in The Neon Demon, Somewhere and The Beguiled, among other parts.
Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow
Who is President Coriolanus Snow? The film's main protagonist. The formidable leader of Panem has previously been played by the late Donald Sutherland in the original films and then as a younger man by Tom Blyth in 2023 prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
What else has Ralph Fiennes been in? The actor most recently appeared on our screens in papal thriller Conclave, which earned him a Best Actor nod at this year's Academy Awards. He also previously portrayed Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, and is set to appear in Cristopher Nolan's upcoming take on The Odyssey.
Kieran Culkin plays Caesar Flickerman
Who is Caesar Flickerman? The host of Panem's darkest spectacle — the Hunger Games.
What else has Kieran Culkin been in? Culkin is the younger brother of Home Alone star Macaulay and made his film debut as Fuller McCallister in that movie. After appearing in a host of independent films, Culkin stepped away from the limelight before returning in 2018 as Roman Roy in HBO's Succession. He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar earlier this year for his role in A Real Pain.
Joseph Zada plays Haymitch Abernathy
Who is Haymitch Abernathy? A character who will be very familiar to fans of the original Hunger Games series, Sunrise of the Reaping follows Haymitch after he is chosen as the second male tribute from District 12 – wanting nothing more than to return to his family and girlfriend.
What else has Joseph Zada been in? Zada has previously starred in a number of projects in his homeland Australia, including drama Invisible Boys, political thriller Total Control and true crime film The Speedway Murders. He also has upcoming roles in Prime Video's young adult series We Were Liars and Netflix's East of Eden adaptation.
Whitney Peak plays Lenore Dove Baird
Who is Lenore Dove Baird? Haymitch's girlfriend, Lenore is a member of the Covey – a previously nomadic music group who were forced to settle in District 12 after the war. Her mother is suspected to be the cousin of Lucy Gray Baird – the character played by Rachel Zegler in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
What else has Whitney Peak been in? Peak is best known for her role as Zoya Lott in the 2021 HBO Max reboot of the hit show Gossip Girl, while other credits include TV shows Home Before Dark and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and films Molly's Game and Hocus Pocus 2.
Mckenna Grace plays Maysilee Donner
Who is Maysilee Donner? The second female tribute from District 12 – who also has a twin sister named Merrilee.
What else has Mckenna Grace been in? Grace rose to fame as a child star – and at the age of 18 has already picked up several notable credits, including key TV roles in The Young and the Restless, Designated Survivor, Fuller House, The Haunting of Hill House, Young Sheldon, The Handmaid's Tale and A Friend of the Family.
On the big screen, she's best known for her role as Phoebe Spengler in the two most recent Ghostbusters films, while she has also played young Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel and been seen in Gifted, Annabelle Comes Home and Malignant.
Jesse Plemons plays Plutarch Heavensbee
Who is Plutarch Heavensbee? Another character who fans will recognise from the originals – where he becomes the Head Gamemaker after the death of Seneca Crane. In Sunrise on the Reaping, he is introduced as a Capitol cameraman who is assigned to the District 12 tributes.
What else has Jesse Plemons been in? Plemons is known for various roles in TV, including Todd in Breaking Bad and Ed Blumquist in Fargo, as well as films including Bridge of Spies, Killers of the Flower Moon, Civil War and The Power of the Dog. He recently reprised his Black Mirror role of Robert Daly in USS Callister: Into Infinity.
Maya Hawke as Wiress
Who is Wiress? Wiress is a former Hunger Games champion turned District 12 mentor. She is a younger version of the troubled character we see played by Amanda Plummer in Catching Fire.
What else has Maya Hawke been in? Hawke is best known for her role as Robin Buckley in Netflix sci-fi hit Stranger Things, which she first appeared in back in 2019. Since then, she's gone on to star in Bradley Cooper's Maestro, Wes Anderson's Asteroid City and Do Revenge on Netflix.
Kelvin Harrison Jr as Beetee Latier
Who is Beetee Latier? A former Hunger Games champion and tech whiz.
What else has Kelvin Harrison Jr been in? Previous credits include Chevalier, Elvis and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Lili Taylor as Mags
Who is Mags? Mags is another Hunger Games alum and, alongside Wiress, serves as a mentor to Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping. She is a younger version of the character played by the late Lynn Cohen in Catching Fire.
What else has Lili Taylor been in? Taylor has appeared in a number of indie films including Dogfight and The Addiction, as well as blockbusters including The Conjuring and The Haunting. More recently, she appeared in Apple's Manhunt and Netflix's Fear Street: Prom Queen.
Sunrise on the Reaping rumoured cast
While many of the biggest casting announcements have now been made, one character from the original films who's set to be played by a new actor is yet to be confirmed: Drusilla Sickle.
Some reports have suggested that Emma Thompson is being eyed for the new role, but that's just a rumour at this stage and we'll update this page once we know more.
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Authors
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.
