Ralph Fiennes Joins The Hunger Games Universe as President Snow in Sunrise on the Reaping

Lionsgate is pulling no punches with its return to Panem. Ralph Fiennes, best known for his chilling performances in Schindler’s List and as Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise, has officially been cast as President Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The announcement came directly from the official Hunger Games Twitter/X account, igniting fan excitement across the internet.

This newest installment in Suzanne Collins’ dystopian saga bridges the gap between the tragic rise of Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and his tyrannical rule during Katniss Everdeen’s rebellion. In Sunrise on the Reaping, Snow is in his prime—a political force at the height of his cruelty and control. Fiennes steps into the role once held by the late Donald Sutherland, bringing a gravitas that promises to honor Sutherland’s legacy while exploring new layers of Snow’s descent.

Set 24 years before Katniss entered the Games, Sunrise on the Reaping focuses on a young Haymitch Abernathy—the eventual mentor to District 12’s future heroes. Haymitch’s own Hunger Games story, long hinted at in the original series, finally comes to life, with actor Joseph Zada taking on the critical role. Jesse Plemons also joins the cast as a younger version of Plutarch Heavensbee, a part originally portrayed by Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Producer Nina Jacobson commented on the significance of casting Fiennes:

“We wanted to honor Donald Sutherland by having one of this generation’s greatest actors play President Snow… It’s genuinely a thrill to welcome him to the Hunger Games.”

The addition of Fiennes gives the prequel a powerful anchor, and with such a strong supporting cast, Sunrise on the Reaping is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious entries in the franchise yet. Fans will get to see the evolution of Panem’s politics, violence, and rebellion from a new lens—one that challenges their perception of both the oppressor and the oppressed.

For longtime fans and new audiences alike, this film promises to deliver the emotional weight, political complexity, and character-driven intensity that made the original series a global phenomenon.

Sources:
The Hollywood Reporter