Ralph Fiennes to Play Snow in New Hunger Games Movie
Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes has been cast as President Snow, the ruthless dictator of Panem, in Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, an adaptation of the bestselling book by Suzanne Collins.
Ralph Fiennes joins Joseph Zada (Haymitch Abernathy), Whitney Peak (Lenore Dove Baird), Mckenna Grace (Maysilee Donner), Jesse Plemons (Plutarch Heavensbee), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Beetee Latier), Maya Hawke (Wiress), Lili Taylor (Mags Flanagan), and Ben Wang (Wyatt Callow) in the announced cast of the film.
Producer Nina Jacobson said, “We wanted to honor Donald Sutherland by having one of this generation’s greatest actors play President Snow 24 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the arena. Working with Ralph has been on my bucket list since he traumatized me for life in Schindler’s List. It’s genuinely a thrill to welcome him to the Hunger Games.”
The film adaptation of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be released on November 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence will direct from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray.
Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will produce. Cameron MacConomy will executive produce. The five films in the franchise have taken in over $3.3 billion at the box office.
Published on March 18, Sunrise on the Reaping revisits the world of Panem twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Sunrise on the Reaping sold 1.5 million copies in its first week on sale in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The 1.2 million copies sold in the U.S. are twice the first week sales of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and three times the first week sales of Mockingjay.
Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien are overseeing the project for Lionsgate. Phil Strina negotiated the deal for the studio.
Ralph Fiennes has been nominated for three Academy Awards and seven BAFTA awards (including winning for his performance in Schindler’s List). He was most recently seen this year in Edward Berger’s critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning film Conclave.
The actor’s credits include playing Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter film series and M in the James Bond films. His upcoming work includes roles in The Choral, for director Nicholas Hytner, and 28 Years Later, for director Danny Boyle.
