LOS ANGELES — Academy Award and Emmy winner Kieran Culkin has been roped in
for “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” as magnanimous host Caesar
Flickerman.
Actor Stanley Tucci played the role in the original
quartet of films.
Culkin joins previously announced cast members such as
Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Mckenna
Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Maya Hawke as
Wiress, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Lili Taylor as Mags, Ben Wang as Wyatt,
Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket and Ralph Fiennes as President Snow. MollyMcCann
will also appear as Louella, while Iona Bell will portray her Capitol-assigned
lookalike Lou Lou.
The new film, based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same
name, revisits the world of Panem nearly a quarter of a century before the
events of those films, where Woody Harrelson’s Haymitch Abernathy served as a
mentor to Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta
Mellark, reports variety.com.
In “Sunrise on the Reaping,” Haymitch is the main
character, as the action begins on the morning of the reaping of the 50th
Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, in which he enters the deadly
arena.
“Kieran’s scene-stealing presence and undeniable charm
are perfect for Caesar Flickerman, the sickeningly watchable host of Panem’s
darkest spectacle. Stanley Tucci made Caesar unforgettable—and now Kieran will
make the role entirely his own,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group
co-president Erin Westerman.
Earlier this year, Culkin collected the best supporting
actor Oscar for his performance opposite Jesse Eisenberg in “A Real Pain.” He’s
halfway to EGOT status after winning the lead actor drama Emmy for the final
season of “Succession,” where he played Roman Roy.
Culkin currently appears on Broadway starring in
“Glengarry Glen Ross” with Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr.
The film adaptation of “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the
Reaping” will be released on November 20, 2026. Lawrence, who has helmed every
installment of the franchise since 2012’s “Catching Fire,” will direct from a
screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray. Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad
Simpson will produce.
