Kieran Culkin has found a way to follow-up his Academy Award win, the surest of the night, for his performance in A Real Pain. He’ll head to Panem for The Hunger Games: Sunrise On the Reaping, a prequel that is really loading up with big names, as he’s not alone. Also joining the cast is Elle Fanning, with both actors playing younger versions of established characters.
THR reports Culkin has joined Sunrise On the Reaping as a young Caesar Flickerman, the toothy host and interviewer of The Hunger Games competition for more than forty years. He was played by Stanley Tucci in the earlier movies.
Meanwhile, Fanning takes over the role of Effie Trinket, the Panem stylist who was previously played by Elizabeth Banks. This is the latest blockbuster franchise for Fanning, who will be seen later this year in Predator: Badlands.
This news follows the recent casting of Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, plus Molly McCann and Iona Bell as Louella and Lou Lou, fan-favorite characters from Suzanne Collins’ book.
Previously cast in the film are 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, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, plus roles for Ben Wang and Lili Taylor. The film is directed once again by Francis Lawrence, his fifth in the franchise.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise On the Reaping hits theaters on November 20th 2026.
