Glenn Close and Billy Porter join ‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’: Here’s the full cast
- Share via
Glenn Close and Billy Porter are joining the cast of “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” as tribute escort Drusilla Sickle and her estranged husband, Magno Stift, respectively.
An adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name from her hit franchise, “Sunrise on the Reaping,” hits theaters Nov. 20, 2026. It is the second prequel to the original “Hunger Games” series, following “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.”
Eight-time Oscar nominee Close, whose acting credits include “Fatal Attraction,” “Dangerous Liaisons” and “101 Dalmatians,” will next appear in “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” the third installment of the “Knives Out” series, bowing Dec. 12. Known as the original Lola in “Kinky Boots,” Porter has won a Tony, Grammy and Emmy for his work.
One tightly wound, the other loose and spontaneous. The setup for ‘A Real Pain’? Yes, and the actors themselves.
When is ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ set?
“Sunrise” takes place 24 years before the events of the first novel featuring Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence in the film franchise) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), and 40 years after “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.” It focuses on Haymitch Abernathy’s plight during the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, when he became District 12’s second victor. Abernathy, played by Woody Harrelson, is mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the original series.
Who else is cast in the film?
In the prequel, Joseph Zada will play Abernathy. Other previously announced cast members include Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags, Ben Wang as Wyatt, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Molly McCann as Louella, Iona Bell as Louella’s Capitol-assigned look-alike Lou Lou and Ralph Fiennes as the main antagonist, President Snow.
Author Charlie Jane Anders reflects on reading and writing young adult literature in an era of explosive popularity that may now be coming to an end.
How have fans responded to the casting choices?
Fans of the series have been largely enthusiastic about the casting decisions, noting the strong physical likeness between the new stars and their older counterparts in the original series. On Monday’s Instagram posts announcing Close and Porter’s hires, several users praised the casting directors for their choices.
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
