Ralph Fiennes Stars as Snow in Hunger Games Prequel

Ralph Fiennes has been cast as President Coriolanus Snow in Lionsgate's newest book-to-screen project, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

The Oscar-nominated actor known for The Menu and Harry Potter joined the production, as announced today on The Hunger Games' official X/Twitter account. His casting marks one of the franchise's most crucial reveals yet.

Sunrise on the Reaping bridges the narrative between 2023's The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and the original Hunger Games quadrilogy led by Jennifer Lawrence. While Tom Blyth portrayed Snow's youth and Donald Sutherland embodied the tyrannical president in later years, Fiennes will depict the character during his political rise when mentoring District 12's Haymitch Abernathy.

"We sought to honor Donald Sutherland's legacy by casting this generation's most accomplished actor as President Snow two decades before Katniss's Games," stated producer Nina Jacobson. "Having admired Ralph's work since Schindler's List, welcoming him to Panem is truly special."

While Fiennes' involvement excites fans most, the film boasts additional noteworthy castings. Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad) will play a younger version of Philip Seymour Hoffman's Plutarch Heavensbee, while Joseph Zada (Total Control) takes on young 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

Adapted from Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel, Sunrise on the Reaping arrives November 20, 2026 under the direction of Francis Lawrence with a screenplay by Billy Ray. Lionsgate announced the project last summer before releasing its first teaser this April.