Ralph Fiennes Cast as President Snow in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Ralph Fiennes has been selected to portray President Coriolanus Snow in Lionsgate's latest adaptation, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. This exciting casting news was shared via the official Hunger Games X/Twitter account, marking another significant announcement in the series. Fiennes, known for his roles in The Conclave and Harry Potter, takes on one of the franchise's most pivotal characters.

Sunrise on the Reaping is set in the timeline between the four Hunger Games films starring Jennifer Lawrence and the 2023 prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The latter introduced audiences to a young Coriolanus Snow, portrayed by Tom Blyth, as he evolves into the ruthless dictator famously played by Donald Sutherland in the original series. Fiennes' portrayal will delve into the middle years of Snow's life, focusing on the story of District 12 tribute and future victor, Haymitch Abernathy.

Producer Nina Jacobson expressed her enthusiasm about Fiennes joining the cast, stating, "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 he traumatized me for life in Schindler's List. It’s genuinely a thrill to welcome him to the Hunger Games."

While Fiennes' casting is highly anticipated, he's not the only exciting addition to the film. Other notable cast members include Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad, Civil War), who will play a younger version of Philip Seymour Hoffman's character, Plutarch Heavensbee, and Joseph Zada (Total Control, Invisible Boys), set to star as Haymitch.

President Snow.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – in theaters November 20, 2026. pic.twitter.com/mj9gXk1hTt

— The Hunger Games (@TheHungerGames) May 16, 2025

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping adapts Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel and is slated for a theatrical release on November 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence, a veteran of the series, will direct, with the screenplay penned by original Hunger Games writer Billy Ray. The project was announced last summer, followed by a teaser trailer released in April this year.