The Capitol has found its new master of ceremonies. Emmy-winning actor Kieran Culkin has officially been cast as Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the highly anticipated prequel to Suzanne Collins’ beloved dystopian saga. The film is set to hit theaters on November 20, 2026, with Catching Fire and Mockingjay director Francis Lawrence returning to helm the project.
Culkin, best known for his award-winning performance as Roman Roy in HBO’s Succession, will take on the role made iconic by Stanley Tucci in the original film series. Lionsgate’s Erin Westerman praised Culkin’s casting, calling him “a scene-stealer with a sharp wit and undeniable charisma—perfect for Caesar Flickerman.”
Set 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, the prequel is based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel Sunrise on the Reaping, which focuses on the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. The story follows a young Haymitch Abernathy, the only living Victor from District 12 at the time of Katniss Everdeen’s rise, and delves deeper into the Capitol’s increasing obsession with spectacle, manipulation, and control.
The film’s cast boasts an impressive lineup alongside Culkin:
- Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch Abernathy
- Elle Fanning as a young Effie Trinket
- Ralph Fiennes as President Snow
- Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee
- Whitney Peak as original character Lenore Dove Baird
Fans can expect to see more of Panem’s early political decay and the origins of Capitol propaganda through the lens of its flamboyant showman, Caesar Flickerman. According to Collins, this installment will take a darker, more introspective look at the Hunger Games’ evolution, shifting the spotlight from rebellion to the roots of oppression.
With Culkin stepping into the role of the Capitol’s iconic host, expectations are sky-high. His blend of eccentricity, wit, and emotional depth makes him an exciting fit for the role, and fans are eager to see how his version of Flickerman will differ from Tucci’s charismatic original.
As The Hunger Games franchise gears up for a new chapter, Sunrise on the Reaping is poised to reignite the dystopian phenomenon for a new generation.
