Ralph Fiennes has been cast as President Coriolanus Snow in Lionsgate's upcoming novel adaptation, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
The announcement of the acclaimed actor's involvement came via the official Hunger Games X/Twitter account. Known for his roles in The Conclave and Harry Potter series, Fiennes joins a growing roster of cast members for this pivotal prequel installment.
Sunrise on the Reaping bridges the timeline between 2023's The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and the original Hunger Games quadrilogy. While the previous prequel featured Tom Blyth as young Snow and Donald Sutherland portrayed the older version in the main films, Fiennes will depict the president during his middle years. The story focuses on District 12 tribute Haymitch Abernathy's victory in the 50th Hunger Games.
"We aimed to pay tribute to Donald Sutherland's iconic performance by casting one of our generation's finest actors as President Snow," producer Nina Jacobson commented. "Ralph's haunting performance in Schindler's List has stayed with me for decades, and we're thrilled to welcome him to the Hunger Games universe."
While Fiennes' casting represents a major draw for fans, several other notable actors have joined the project. They include Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad) as a younger Plutarch Heavensbee and Joseph Zada (Total Control) as Haymitch Abernathy.
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 film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel will debut on November 20, 2026, with franchise director Francis Lawrence returning alongside original Hunger Games screenwriter Billy Ray. The project was first announced last summer, followed by a teaser trailer release this past April.
