Ralph Fiennes Cast as President Snow: Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes has officially joined the cast of Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest installment in The Hunger Games film franchise. The 62-year-old English actor will take on the role of President Coriolanus Snow, the authoritarian ruler of Panem, in the upcoming prequel adapted from Suzanne Collins’ fifth novel of the same name.
Sunrise on the Reaping, released in March 2025, serves as a direct prequel to the original trilogy and is set decades before the events of The Hunger Games series that starred Jennifer Lawrence. The film centers on a young Haymitch Abernathy and his harrowing experience in the 50th Hunger Games—also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Haymitch Abernathy, originally portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original films, is a central character in the upcoming prequel. The storyline explores his early years, particularly his time as a tribute in the arena. Unlike regular editions of the Hunger Games, this special version doubles the number of tributes, with two boys and two girls selected from each of the 12 districts. The narrative will delve into Haymitch’s survival in an arena that is not only more violent but also politically charged, offering viewers a deeper look at the mechanics of Panem’s dystopian regime.
Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of President Snow will bridge the timeline between the youthful Snow played by Tom Blyth in 2023’s The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and the elderly despot depicted by Donald Sutherland in the original film series. Fiennes’ version of Snow will appear approximately 40 years after the events of Songbirds and Snakes and about 24 years before the original trilogy begins with Katniss Everdeen’s entry into the arena.
The casting follows the death of Donald Sutherland in June 2024. Sutherland played Snow in the first four Hunger Games films, from 2012 to 2015, and was widely praised for his chilling interpretation of the character. Fiennes’ addition to the cast honors Sutherland’s legacy while offering a fresh yet familiar portrayal of the character at a different stage in his reign.
Fiennes brings a wealth of experience to the role. He is widely recognized for his performances as Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series and as Nazi officer Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List, for which he won a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1994. His ability to convey layered antagonists makes him a fitting choice to play a more seasoned and politically complex version of President Snow.
With its focus on the evolution of Panem’s oppressive regime and the psychological toll of the Games on its victors, Sunrise on the Reaping is expected to offer audiences a deeper, more nuanced view of the franchise’s central themes. The film continues Lionsgate’s commitment to expanding the Hunger Games universe while exploring timely questions of power, control, and resistance through a dystopian lens.
No official release date has been announced for Sunrise on the Reaping. Further casting announcements and production details are expected in the coming months.
