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Mason Gooding has been cast in Kevin Hart’s comedy flick 72 Hours.The 28-year-old actor - who has played Ghostface in the Scream franchise since the 2022 eponymous flick - is attached to play the groom in the upcoming Netflix bachelor party film.Gooding will be joined by Saturday Night Live’s Marcello Hernandez, who will be portraying the groom’s best man and official bachelor party captain.72 Hours follows Hart as a 40-year-old executive who joins a gang of twenty-somethings for a wild three-day bachelor party in Miami after being mistakenly added to their group chat. The film will see Hart reunite with his Ride Along director Tim Story, while Matt Mider, Kevin Burrows, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg pen the script.Variety reports 72 Hours is currently in production in Miami, and will be produced by Hart’s production company Hartbeat, alongside Davis Entertainment.72 Hours is being produced as...

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping star Whitney Peak reveals that she talked to franchise alum, Rachel Zegler, after being cast. The upcoming movie, an adaptation of Suzanne Collins' prequel novel, began announcing cast members, including Joseph Zada and Mckenna Grace, as early as April. Directed by Francis Lawrence — who worked on all but one Hunger Games entry — the 2026 film will depict a young Haymitch Abernathy and his experience competing in the devastating annual event.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Peak noted that joining Sunrise on the Reaping was a"warm welcome" and that she was feeling grateful. Peak also revealed that she is "trying not to get too overwhelmed" about the upcoming production and that The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes star, Rachel Zegler, communicated with her and shared encouragement. She added that going into the audition, she was unsure about the outcome,...

Kieran Culkin says he has “no idea what I’m gonna do with that” and advises “lower those expectations” when fans ask about his newly announced turn as Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The off-hand warning, delivered outside the Broadway revival of Glengarry Glen Ross, arrives less than a fortnight after Lionsgate confirmed the Succession Emmy-winner will host Panem’s grisly spectacle in the 2026 prequel film.

Collins’ novel of the same name was published on 18 March 2025 with an English-language first printing of 2.5 million copies and translations in 25 territories. Set during the 50th Hunger Games, it follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy—future mentor to Katniss Everdeen—decades before the original trilogy. Lionsgate has staked out 20 November 2026 for the film’s release, with long-time franchise steward Francis Lawrence back in the director’s chair from a screenplay by Billy Ray and producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.

Casting...

New York, New York – June 07: (L-r) Jason Reitman, Mckenna Grace and Carrie Coon attend Ghostbusters Day 2025 at Fdny Hook & Ladder 8 on June 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Sony Pictures) New York, New York – June 07: Joe Cirillo and Jason Reitman attend Ghostbusters Day 2025 at Fdny Hook & Ladder 8 on June 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Sony Pictures) New York, New York – June 07: Jason Reitman attends Ghostbusters Day 2025 at Fdny Hook & Ladder 8 on June 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Sony Pictures) Jason Reitman visits LA firehouses to celebrate Ghostbusters Day 2025 and Ghostbusters Gives Back Get ready, Ghostheads! Sony Pictures Entertainment has announced that Ghostbusters Day 2025 is gearing up to be the most meaningful celebration yet, shining a spotlight on the incredible heart of the fandom with the launch of Ghostbusters Give Back!

As development continues on three more installments in the franchise, GhostbustersDay is coming back and celebrating its fans in a big way. The annual event, which began in 2016, takes place every June 8 to celebrate the anniversary of the franchise's launch in 1984, with Sony taking part with special announcements and fundraising campaigns. Past years' Ghostbusters Days have seen Los Angeles declare it an official day for the city thanks to the LA Ghostbusters and Ghost Corps' philanthropic impact supporting the Starlight Children's Foundation, as well as early looks at Ghostbusters: Frozen Empireand more.

Now, ScreenRant is proud to exclusively present the details for this year's Ghostbusters Day, namely the theme of Ghostbusters Give Back. Throughout the year, franchise fan groups across the country are being encouraged to participate in a friendly fundraising competition for who can raise the most for their local causes. Sony will be matching contributions up to $150,000, which...

Exclusive: Intrigue continues over the destination of Lionsgate’s flagship IP, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping with studios, streamers and indie buyers in the mix to pay a lot of money for rights to the movie.

As we’ve reported, the latest installment in the popular franchise was the big-ticket movie at the recent Cannes market. Shooting this summer in Germany with a budget understood to be in the $150M range, the project has amassed an impressive cast including Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning, Joseph Zada, Kieran Culkin, Maya Hawke, Jesse Plemons, Ben Wang, Lili Taylor, Whitney Peak, McKenna Grace and Kelvin Harrison Jr.

Despite some hefty asking prices, interest has been solid at a time when buyers are thirsty for tried and trusted IP. We understand Sony and Amazon are among the studios and streamers interested in taking the project — at the right price. Both are understood to...

Hailee Steinfeld sunk her teeth into the worldwide conversation thanks to her role in Sinners, but well over 10 years ago, she lost out on the leading role in a dystopian sci-fi film that blossomed into a global franchise. Steinfeld was one of the many stars to audition for the role of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. Other names include Shailene Woodley, Abigail Breslin, Saoirse Ronan, Emma Roberts, and more. Steinfeld ultimately lost out on the role to Jennifer Lawrence. Now, 13 years after the first Hunger Games movie hit theaters, the film has returned to streaming glory on HBO Max, sitting in the #3 spot on the streamer’s chart. All three of its sequels, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2, are also sitting comfortably in the Max top 10.

The first Hunger Games movie earned a “certified fresh” 84% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a solid 81% from general audiences on the Popcornmeter.

In 2023, Blumhouse gleefully jumped on the string of video game to film adaptations, bringing Scott Cawthon’s beloved horror game Five Nights at Freddy’s to a chilling feature-length life. The movie proved to be an incredible success at the box office, earning well over $297 million globally before its run came to an end — and that’s on top of the fact that the title dropped the same day on Peacock. As is the case with most works that celebrate that kind of achievement, fans were quickly asking when they could expect a sequel. Although it may have taken longer than the following would have liked, a follow-up was officially announced in April of last year. Now that we’re only six months away from the film’s debut, many are wondering what they can expect when Freddy Fazbear returns for his next murderous spree.

Collider’s Perri Nemiroff recently sat...

Following the success of Five Nights at Freddy's, Blumhouse has announced a new film adaptation of a horror game is on the way. The news was announced at the Business of Fear Event in Hollywood on June 3.

Blumhouse officially announced its plans to develop a film adaptation of the acclaimed paranormal horror game Phasmaphobia. No distributor or release date has been revealed at this time. Blumhouse and Atomic Monster are set to produce in association with Kinetic Games Limited, Phasmaphobia's developer. Based on the concept of ghost hunting, the game sees players working together to complete a contract to identify what type of ghost is haunting a designated site.

Similar to Five Nights at Freddy's, the game skyrocketed in popularity in 2020 after many online streamers played it.Phasmaphobia has surpassed 23 million global sales and is a genre-defining title in multiplayer horror gaming. By the end of October 2020, it was the best-selling game of the week,...

El Parque Natural de Somiedo está entre las opciones de Lionsgate para recrear la arena de los Quincuagésimos Juegos del Hambre. © Getty Images

Atención, tributos: Somiedo podría convertirse en el escenario de Los juegos del hambre: Amanecer en la cosecha, según ha informado El Comercio, que asegura que Lionsgate ha incluido el Parque Natural asturiano entre sus posibles localizaciones para el rodaje.

De hecho, el equipo de localización ya ha movido ficha y ha enviado a expertos a la zona para evaluar su potencial como plató cinematográfico. Con sus frondosos bosques y su lago rodeado de imponentes montañas, el paisaje encajaría perfectamente con la estética de las arenas vistas en entregas anteriores entregas de la saga de Suzanne Collins. De ser elegido, el rodaje en este enclave podría extenderse durante cinco días.

La precuela Los Juegos del Hambre: Amanecer en la cosecha ha cosechado (nunca mejor dicho) un elenco de lujo,...

Scream 7 started filming at the start of January, aiming for a February 27, 2026 release date, with Kevin Williamson, who wrote the screenplay for the original Scream, directing the film from a screenplay by 2022’s Scream and Scream VI writer Guy Busick, who crafted the story with his co-writer on the fifth and sixth films, James Vanderbilt. (Vanderbilt is also a producer on the most recent sequels.) Now, Busick has revealed that Scream 7 picks up “at least two years” after the events of Scream VI.

Spyglass and Paramount once intended to make a Scream 7 that would have starred Scream (2022) and Scream VI leads Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, with Freaky and Happy Death Day director Christopher Landon at the helm. But then Ortega allegedly asked for a substantial pay raise – and as we saw when Neve Campbell dropped out of Scream VI due to a pay dispute, these pay...

There were a few wishes from fans for the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale, and some of them happened. In fact, there were two characters who returned that we never expected to see again, simply because they’re not alive in the universe anymore. And it’s because of these returns that I refuse to believe the omission of one character was due to bad writing.

Yes, I’m talking about Esther, the young Wife-turned-Handmaid played by Mckenna Grace in The Handmaid’s Tale season 4. She was introduced early on as a bit of hope that the Handmaids would escape Gilead, and in the end, she became one of them. Her tale was another harrowing one, and there was some hope that she would at least be mentioned in the final season, but that didn’t happen.

Opening Night Of Halloween Horror Nights At Universal Studios Hollywood | Rich Polk/GettyImages...

Things are moving along nicely for the next Hunger Games movie to ensure its timely arrival. The production team had previously teased when production on The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping wasexpected to begin, and now, we're learning from one of the prequel's numerous stars that the cameras are set to begin rolling soon. Ben Wang, the rising star tapped for the role of Wyatt Callow, a male tribute from District 12, confirmed in a recent interview with ScreenRant that filming will indeed begin this July, setting the wheels in motion for the much-anticipated prequel movie in Suzanne Collins’ ever-expanding dystopian franchise.

Before his arrival in Panem next year, Wang, who got his claim to fame with Disney+’s American Born Chinese,will next be seen in the martial arts movie, Karate Kid: Legends, set to hit theaters this weekend. While attending the premiere of the film in New York,...

For the first time in the franchise’s history, original Scream writer Kevin Williamson sits in the director’s chair for the upcoming Scream 7, due in theaters on February 27, 2026.

Neve Campbell is back as Sidney Prescott, with the character taking center stage in the upcoming seventh installment. She’ll be joined by a host of returning players including David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Scott Foley and Matthew Lillard, with Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown also set to reprise their roles from the previous two installments.

So what the hell is Scream 7 actually about and how are all these characters going to be brought back into the mix? These are the questions we still don’t have any answers to. But in a new chat with ComicBook.com this week, writer Guy Busick does offer up some mild teasers.

For starters, he reveals that Scream 7 takes place approximately two...

Though her personality and push for success may have rubbed several characters the wrong way, fans have Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers to thank for the addition of two of the Core Four members in Scream 7. The movie’s scribe, Guy Busick (Final Destination Bloodlines), recently sat down with ComicBook and revealed how Core Four favorites and twins — Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding) — will make their way into the seventh installment. Giving “credit where credit is due,” Busick revealed that it was his Scream (2022) and Scream VI co-writer, James Vanderbilt, who first pitched “an organic way why they would be in this movie.”

Careful to not step on the loaded minefield of spoilers, he continued,

“I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say it’s through Gale. She’s the connective tissue in 5 and 6 and she’s in this. New York was...

The impending return of multiple characters in Scream 7 has been explained by screenwriter Guy Busick. The slasher sequel will only feature two of the Core Four characters who were introduced in 2022's Scream and returned in Scream VI, namely Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown), after their co-star Melissa Barrera was fired following pro-Palestine social media posts and Jenna Ortega subsequently exited the project as well. The upcoming Scream 7 also sees Neve Campbell reprising the role of franchise final girl Sidney Prescott after having skipped out on the sixth movie due to a pay dispute.

ComicBook recently interviewed screenwriter Guy Busick when he was promoting his new movie Final Destination Bloodlines. However, the conversation also touched on Scream 7, and he offered some insight into how and why Sidney Prescott and the Meeks-Martin twins will return in the new movie, which was directed by franchise screenwriter Kevin Williamson.

Kieran Culkin is joining the cast of the latest ‘Hunger Games’ film.The actor, 41, has enjoyed a resurgence in fame thanks to his roles in ‘Succession’ and ‘A Real Pain’, and is now stepping into the glittering shoes of Caesar Flickerman in the upcoming prequel movie ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’.Its producer Nina Jacobson was quoted by Variety saying: “Kieran’s magnetism, wit, and unpredictability make him a perfect fit for Caesar Flickerman. “A host like Caesar transforms brutality into entertainment, and an actor as layered as Kieran makes sure we don’t look away.”Kieran takes over the role made famous by Stanley Tucci in the original four-film franchise.Sunrise on the Reaping’, based on Suzanne Collins’ latest novel, takes place 24 years before the events of the first film and centres on a young Haymitch Abernathy – played in the new adaptation by Joseph Zada – during the 50th Hunger Games,...

Ben Wang is “really excited” to play Wyatt Callow in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’.The 25-year-old actor has been cast as the District 12 Tribute in the upcoming fantasy blockbuster, and has now teased how the character’s duality will factor into the movie's story.When asked what aspects of Wyatt he was excited to explore, the ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ star said: “Oh, there’s so many. What really excited me about that character in the first place [is] he’s not what he seems. “I think that’s part of the point of his character. He’s seen by his community as one thing, but he’s another thing underneath, and he’s a contradiction. “He’s a logician, but he’s got a really big heart, right? He’s supposed to be cold and calculating, but he’s actually the person who does the most illogical and selfless thing.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, the horror icon from the late 1990s who starred in films like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions, says she would be open to returning to the Scream franchise. Gellar had a minor role in Scream 2 as Cici Cooper, one of Ghostface's early victims in the movie. However, despite her character's death (Cici gets thrown off the balcony of a frat house), Gellar is down to revive Cici: "I'm waiting for my call."

The actor, also famous for her role as Buffy in the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer,spoke to Entertainment Tonight at the premiere of the film Pretty Hurts. Gellar talked about her return as the vampire hunter in the Buffy revival, and about how she doesn't let her children see her in Cruel Intentions. She also said that, as much as she wants to return to the horror franchise Scream,...

The Young Sheldon finale has been received well by fans, as it brings Sheldon to the doorstep of Caltech and ties neatly into The Big Bang Theory. However, not everyone is satisfied. Despite the emotional closure and full-circle moment, a growing number of fans have voiced their disappointment over the show’s early conclusion.

Fans have argued that a crucial chapter of Sheldon Cooper’s life, his transformative years at Caltech, was left unexplored, describing it as a missed opportunity for the showrunner Chuck Lorre.

What happened in the Young Sheldon finale?

In the two-part series finale of Young Sheldon, the Cooper family faces the sudden passing of George Sr., after he suffers from a fatal heart attack just as he is about to start a new coaching job.

A still from Young Sheldon | Credit: CBS

Each family member processes the loss differently, with Sheldon struggling with his emotions. He...

Hunger Games fans, pull out your acting cloaks as Lionsgate dropped a bombshell that has the fandom buzzing. They are holding an open casting call for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, giving one lucky person the chance to step into Panem’s gritty, gripping world. Imagine standing in the arena, rubbing shoulders with tributes, or facing the Capitol’s glare.

The prequel, hitting theaters on November 20, 2026, dives into a young Haymitch Abernathy’s story, and Lionsgate wants you to help bring it to life. Whether you are a theater kid or someone who’s never acted a day in your life, this is your shot to leave a mark on the Hunger Games legacy.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping holds an open casting call Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games: Credits: Lionsgate Studios

Picture this: you, in the world of The Hunger Games,...

Scream 7 started filming at the start of January, aiming for a February 27, 2026 release date, and we’ve seen some surprising reports about the slasher sequel as it has made its way through production – with the most surprising and strange news being that Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley, who played Ghostface killers who were killed off in Scream (1996) and Scream 3, respectively, and David Arquette, whose beloved character Dewey lost his life in Scream (2022), are all in the cast. But there’s one person on the Scream franchise body count that has been hoping to come back for Scream 7 and hasn’t been contacted yet: Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played ill-fated college student Cici Cooper in Scream 2.

Gellar told Entertainment Tonight (with thanks to Coming Soon for the transcription), “I’m not in [Scream 7]. I tried to get in [Scream 7], nobody wanted me. They were bringing everybody back.

If you’ve ever wanted to be in the “Hunger Games” universe — for whatever reason — now’s your chance. Lionsgate just announced an open audition where one volunteer tribute will be selected for an undisclosed role in “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.”

“This is an official casting call: one lucky fan will be selected for a role in ‘Sunrise on the Reaping,'” the movie’s X (formerly Twitter) account shared on Friday. “To audition, show us your best: act out a scene, perform a song, or surprise us with something completely new. All talents welcome. No previous experience necessary.”

Your turn.

This is an official casting call: one lucky fan will be selected for a role in Sunrise on the Reaping.

To audition, show us your best: act out a scene, perform a song, or surprise us with something completely new. All talents welcome. No previous experience…...

New Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Cast Revealed(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Lionsgate just dropped a major casting bomb for the Hunger Games prequel, and it’s one hell of a lineup. Based on Suzanne Collins’ March 2025 novel, Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters on November 20, 2026. This time, we’re heading back more than 20 years before Katniss’ rebellion to follow a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy—yes, that Haymitch, long before he was the bitter, boozy mentor with a death glare and a flask.

Australian breakout Joseph Zada will step into the younger Haymitch’s shoes. You might’ve caught him in Total Control or Invisible Boys, but now he’s taking on the 50th Hunger Games (aka the Second Quarter Quell) with more heart and heartbreak than we’ve ever seen from the character. The twist? He’s sober, smitten, and politically aware.

Speaking of smitten — enter Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird,...

Kieran Culkin is the latest name to join the cast of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.’

The actor will play Caesar Flickerman, the games’ eccentric host, a role Stanley Tucci portrayed in the franchise’s first four films.

Culkins joins a previously announced cast of Elle Fanning as a young version of Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks’ role from the original films), Harrison Jr. who takes on the role of Beetee, Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Lili Taylor as Mags and Maya Hawke as Wiress.

Also in news – Murphy in talks for Damien Chazelle’s prison drama

Suzanne Collins’s book opens with the young Plutarch Heavensbee in District 12, capturing the reaping of the Tributes there. Published on March 18, the novel revisits the world of Panem 24 years...

Production for the next Hunger Games film, Sunrise on the Reaping, is about to begin. Lionsgate has announced a variety of cast members to star in the franchise's prequel, but before you indulge in Haymitch's story in the 2nd Quarter Quell, you can watch where this saga all began, as the original trilogy has found a new streaming home next month.

The Hunger Games and its three sequels, Catching Fire and Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2, will enter HBO Max next month. These films are based on the same books and starred Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, and Donald Sutherland. Ever since the first movie was released in 2012, all four films have generated over $2.9 billion at the global box office, plus it received a lot of praises from fans and critics alike on Rotten Tomatoes, with Catching Fire described as the best film in...

Oscar and Emmy winner Kieran Culkin has joined “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” as magnanimous host Caesar Flickerman. Stanley Tucci played the role in the original quartet of films.

Culkin joins previously announced cast members 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.

Confirming what’s been rumored, Kieran Culkin is now set to play Caesar Flickerman, host of the Hunger Games — the role inhabited in earlier films by Stanley Tucci — in Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, based on the bestseller by Suzanne Collins.

Culkin joins an ensemble led by Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak, who respectively play Haynith Abernathy and his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Others set include Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, and Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket.

Published March 18, the latest installment in Collins’ dystopian YA book series revisits the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have an important announcement to make: Kieran Culkin has joined the star-studded cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingas Caesar Flickerman. The flamboyant host of The Hunger Games was originally portrayed by Stanley Tucci in the franchise's first four films, but the torch is now being passed to the Emmy Award-winning Succession star. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman noted the qualities she feels he will bring to the role via The Hollywood Reporter:

"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."

Culkin has been collecting acting trophies at awards ceremonies at an outstanding rate following his memorable performance as snarky media scion Roman Roy in the immensely popular HBO series Succession, for which he...

It's a day ending in 'y', so you know what that means folks... more casting announcements for The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping! Over the last few weeks, reveals of who'll be starring in Francis Lawrence's upcoming Games prequel have become the Zillennial equivalent of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey role call, with everyone from Jesse Plemons to Ralph Fiennes to Maya Hawke volunteering as tribute to appear in the latest adaptation of Suzanne Collins' win-or-die sci-fi books. Now, in a new pair of inky Instagram posts, Lionsgate has confirmed that Kieran Culkin and Elle Fanning are heading to Panem.

Per the above posts, newly minted A Real Pain Oscar winner Kieran Culkin is set to play Caesar Flickerman — the Hunger Games host previously played by Stanley Tucci — in Sunrise On The Reaping. Fanning, on the other hand, will fill Elizabeth Banks' heels as stylist Effie Trinket in the film,...

Estreno en noviembre de 2026. © Getty Images

La precuela Los Juegos del Hambre: Amanecer en la cosecha sigue aumentando el hype a medida que suma nombres a su ambicioso reparto (digno de estudio). Y es que la película, basada en la novela homónima de Suzanne Collins publicada el pasado 18 de marzo, continúa cosechando (nunca mejor dicho) un elenco de lujo, que combina pesos pesados con futuras promesas y estrellas emergentes.

Como muchos ya sabréis, la historia se sitúa 24 años antes de los eventos de la primera entrega protagonizada por Katniss Everdeen, y se centra en Haymitch Abernathy, cuando tenía apenas 16 años y fue seleccionado como tributo del Distrito 12 para competir en los 50º Juegos del Hambre. En honor al aniversario, el doble del número de tributos fue enviado a la arena, dando un total de 48 tributos, 24 niños y 24 niñas. Ya os podéis imaginar lo que todo eso implicó…

El personaje de Haymitch,...

Hollywood actor Kieran Culkin has been officially tapped to portray Caesar Flickerman in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, Lionsgate announced on May 21, 2025. The film, directed by Francis Lawrence with a screenplay by Billy Ray, is based on Suzanne Collins’s 2025 novel and is slated for theatrical release on November 20, 2026. Culkin will succeed Stanley Tucci, who made the character memorable in the original franchise’s first four installments.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman praised Culkin’s “scene-stealing presence and undeniable charm,” asserting that he is “perfect for Caesar Flickerman, the sickeningly watchable host of Panem’s darkest spectacle”. Franchise producer Nina Jacobson added that “Kieran’s magnetism, wit and unpredictability make him a perfect fit for Caesar Flickerman. A host like Caesar transforms brutality into entertainment, and an actor as layered as Kieran makes sure we don’t look away”.

Sunrise on the Reaping is...

Kieran Culkin has been cast in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’.The 42-year-old actor will appear in the upcoming fantasy movie as Caesar Flickerman - the character first played by Stanley Tucci in the original ‘Hunger Games’ films, The Hollywood Reporter has said.The ‘A Real Pain’ star will be joining Joseph Zada, who will lead the flick as Haymitch Abernathy - previously portrayed by Woody Harrelson - with Whitney Peak set to portray his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Meanwhile, Maya Hawke will play Wiress - the former Hunger Games champion who now serves as a mentor for those in District 12 - while Mckenna Grace has been cast as District 12 Tribute Maysilee Donner. Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ star Ben Wang have also joined ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’, and will portray Plutarch Heavensbee, Beetee and District 12 Tribute Wyatt Callow, respectively. Rounding...

Ralph Fiennes and Kieran Culkin have joined the impressive cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping, due out next next year. The cast already includes Maya Hawke, Mckenna Grace and Jesse Plemons.

Update, 22nd May: More casting news for Sunrise On The Reaping! Things are getting very exciting as Lionsgate keeps adding to the next Hunger Games film’s cast list.

Joining the likes of Jesse Plemons, Maya Hawke and McKenna Grace in the new film are Ralph Fiennes, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Ben Wang, Iona Bell and Molly McCann.

It’s a pretty impressive cast, wouldn’t you say? Fiennes is due to take on the role of President Snow while recent Oscar-winner Culkin will be the flamboyant Caesar Flickerman. Fanning will charm us as Effie Trinket while Karate Kid: Legends star Ben Wang will be Wyatt Callow, Haymitch’s fellow tribute. McCann will play Louella, another...

Kieran Culkin has joined the cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Lionsgate’s sixth entry in the series of hit film adaptations from the novels of Suzanne Collins.

Lionsgate kicked off sales on the new entry at this week’s Cannes market.

Recent Oscar winner (for A Real Pain) Culkin will play games host Caesar Flickerman, the character played in the four original Hunger Games films by Stanley Tucci. Culkin joins a cast that already includes Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes and Elle Fanning.

The Hunger Games franchise keeps expanding. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the sixth installment in the overall Hunger Games film franchise and the second prequel, is in development at Lionsgate, with a fall 2026 premiere slated.

Sunrise on the Reaping is based on a dystopian young adult novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, published in March 2025. It became the fastest-selling title in the Hunger Games book series so far, selling more than 1.5 million copies in its first week. The film adaptation was already in the works. Still, with the publication of the novel, the pace of movie development has accelerated, and news about it is emerging at a steady clip.

Here’s what we know so far about The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

What is Sunrise on the Reaping about?

Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games. It...

The cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is positively star-studded, and it’s still growing. It’s been announced that Kieran Culkin will join the project as Caesar Flickerman, host of the Hunger Games. Stanley Tucci played the role in the earlier films.

“Kieran’s scene-stealing presence and undeniable charm are perfect for Caesar Flickerman, the sickeningly watchable host of Panem’s darkest spectacle,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman. “Stanley Tucci made Caesar unforgettable — and now Kieran will make the role entirely his own.“

Producer Nina Jacobson added, “Kieran’s magnetism, wit, and unpredictability make him a perfect fit for Caesar Flickerman. A host like Caesar transforms brutality into entertainment, and an actor as layered as Kieran makes sure we don’t look away.“

Sunrise on the Reaping will star Joseph Zada (Invisible Boys) as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak (Hocus Pocus 2) as Lenore Dove Baird,...

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has found its Caesar Flickerman. In the original movies, the Hunger Games host and interviewer was played by Stanley Tucci. Set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen's first Hunger Games, Caesar interviews Haymitch Abernathy and the other 47 tributes in the second Quarter Quell the night before the Games start. Sunrise on the Reaping's cast already includes Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow, and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Kieran Culkin has now been cast as Caesar Flickerman. Culkin recently won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in recognition of her performance as Benji Kaplan in Jesse Eisenberg's A Real Pain. He is also known for his role as Roman Roy in HBO's critically acclaimed series Succession, for which he won an Emmy Award.

Well, Caesar was a Roman, wasn't he? Academy Award-winner Kieran Culkin has become the latest huge name to join the increasingly impressive and, quite frankly, absurd cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, taking on the role of Caesar Flickerman. Flickerman is, of course, the pompous and purple-haired television host who serves as the voice of The Capitol during the Hunger Games. Culkin will be playing a younger version of the character, first portrayed by Stanley Tucci with enormous teeth in the original four movies. Jason Schwartzman also played another Flickerman, Caesar's father — we assume — Lucretius "Lucky" Flickerman in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The film, based on the latest bestseller by Suzanne Collins, takes place 24 years before Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) ever volunteered as tribute — before Caesar was gleefully commentating on her rise to rebellion. Sunrise on the Reaping focuses on a teenage Haymitch Abernathy, played by newcomer Joseph Zada,...

Fresh off his Oscar win for “A Real Pain,” Kieran Culkin is joining the cast of “Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” as Caesar Flickerman, the witty showman who hosts the deadly event that was previously played by Stanley Tucci.

He joins Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Elle Fanning and Ralph Fiennes in the announced cast of the film.

Set a quarter-century before the events of the “Hunger Games” trilogy, “Sunrise on the Reaping” tells the tale of how Haymitch Abernathy, played by Zada in the upcoming film, became the first District 12 competitor to win the Hunger Games. The film is based on the Suzanne Collins novel released this past March, which has already sold more than 1.5 million copies.

In the series, Caesar Flickerman serves as the public face of the Hunger Games for the viewers in the Capitol of Panem,...

Kieran Culkin is following up his Oscar win with a spot in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

The actor has been cast as Caesar Flickerman in the forthcoming Lionsgate film, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Francis Lawrence directs the movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel that will hit theaters Nov. 20, 2026.

Caesar is the eccentric host of the Hunger Games. Stanley Tucci portrayed an older version of the character in the series’ first four films that kicked off with The Hunger Games hitting theaters in 2012.

Previously announced castmembers for Sunrise on the Reaping include Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor and Ben Wang. THR’s exclusive casting reporting has included Ralph Fiennes as the diabolical President Snow; Molly McCann and Iona Bell as standout book characters Louella and Lou Lou, respectively; and Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket.

Lawrence...

What would the 50th Hunger Games be without the quirky and beloved Effie Trinket? Well, fans won’t have to worry because Elle Fanning has officially been cast in the role of Haymitch Abernathy’s (Joseph Zada) stylist in the upcoming feature film, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Effie was originally portrayed by Elizabeth Banks in the franchise’s first four films, but the part is now in the capable hands of the A Complete Unknown and Predator: Badlands star. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman said of the brilliant casting move via The Hollywood Reporter:

"From the moment Suzanne released the book, one question echoed from fans around the world: Who will play Effie? Elizabeth Banks made her iconic — so who could honor that legacy while bringing us back to Effie’s early, most formative days? For us, there was only one answer. Elle Fanning’s career has been transcendent.

Suzanne Collins gave her readers a huge gift in returning to the world of The Hunger Games series, the first three books of which she wrote in 2008, 2009 and 2010, for the prequel story of one Haymitch Abernathy.

Haymitch, portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the quartet of films based on Collins’ original book trilogy, was Katniss Everdeen’s (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark’s (Josh Hutcherson) mentor for their two Hunger Games — the 74th and 75th.

For everything we know about the film adaptation of Hunger Game: Sunrise on the Reaping, read on:

When does the The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping film come out?

The film will arrive in theaters November 20, 2026.

Has the Sunrise on the Reaping film started production yet?

The film is still in early rounds of casting.

Who will play Haymitch Abernathy in The Sunrise on the Reaping movie?

Joseph Zada has been cast in the main...

Gold Derby's top news stories for May 20, 2025.

Watch the trailer for It: Welcome to Derry

It: Welcome to Derry, HBO Max's upcoming prequel series based on Stephen King's novel and Andy Muschietti's film adaptations, got its first trailer. Pennywise the Dancing Clown emerges every 27 years to feed on the children of Derry, and the show tells the story of the class of 1962 — 27 years before the events of It Chapter One. The cast includes Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, and Taylour Paige, with Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise. Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs developed the series for television, with Andy Muschietti directing multiple episodes and Fuchs serving as showrunner alongside Brad Caleb Kane. The horror drama premieres this fall on HBO and HBO Max.

Elle Fanning cast as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Emmy nominee Elle Fanning has joined the...

Elle Fanning is ready to volunteer as tribute for Lionsgate‘s Hunger Games prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. For what might be the most fitting casting yet, Fanning will play Effie Trinket in the latest installment of the Hunger Games film franchise. Elizabeth Banks played Effie in the original Hunger Games films, lighting up the screen whenever she’d smile through the pain and swish around in the latest Panem fashions.

Effie Trinket is the escort for District 12 tributes and acts as an advisor to Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in the original films (and novels). She chaperones the tributes to the Capitol and other events. She also acts as a stylist, ensuring her tributes stand out. After the Second Rebellion, she is the only living escort from the 74th and 75th Hunger Games.

Elle Fanning joins Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird,...

Moviegoers will soon be heading back into the arena with Lionsgate's The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which will introduce audiences to the backstory of the iconic Hunger Games mentor Haymitch Abernathy. Details on the film remain slim, but the call sheet is quickly filling up with our dream cast: Elle Fanningis set to star in the film as a young Effie Trinket, according to THR.

Fanning will take on the mantle of Effie, a woman from the totalitarian Capitol of Panem who serves as a chaperone for children selected to participate in the country's brutal fight to the death: the Hunger Games. However, as in the novels of the same name by Suzanne Collins, she eventually becomes a key part of the resistance against the Games and works alongside freedom fighters to end the country's violent ways. Effie was originally played by Elizabeth Banksin the four prior...

Elle Fanning has joined Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” as Effie Trinket, the Capitol stylist played by Elizabeth Banks in the original “Hunger Games” series.

Set a quarter-century before the original series, “Sunrise on the Reaping” tells the story of how Haymitch Abernathy, the future mentor to Katniss Everdeen, became the first District 12 resident to win the Hunger Games.

Elle Fanning joins a cast led by Joseph Zada as Haymitch and also includes Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang and Ralph Fiennes.

“From the moment Suzanne released the book, one question echoed from fans around the world: Who will play Effie? Elizabeth Banks made her iconic—so who could honor that legacy while bringing us back to Effie’s early, most formative days? For us, there was only one answer,” Lionsgate motion picture group co-president Erin Westerman said.

Another fan-favorite The Hunger Games character has been recast for the upcoming prequel film Sunrise on the Reaping. The role of stylist Effie Trinket will be played by The Great star Elle Fanning, succeeding Elizabeth Banks, who portrayed an older version of the character in the original film series.

Lionsgate announced the casting with a video post on X. In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman praised Fanning's casting as Effie Trinket, saying, "From the moment Suzanne released the book, one question echoed from fans around the world: Who will play Effie? Elizabeth Banks made her iconic — so who could honor that legacy while bringing us back to Effie’s early, most formative days? For us, there was only one answer. Elle Fanning’s career has been transcendent. She has a rare presence — warm, sparkling and layered with extraordinary depth. She was...

Elle Fanning has landed a coveted role in Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping!

The 27-year-old actress will portray Effie Trinket in the Hunger Games prequel film, which is the role played by Elizabeth Banks in the earlier movies.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman told THR, “From the moment Suzanne released the book, one question echoed from fans around the world: Who will play Effie? Elizabeth Banks made her iconic — so who could honor that legacy while bringing us back to Effie’s early, most formative days? For us, there was only one answer. Elle Fanning’s career has been transcendent. She has a rare presence — warm, sparkling and layered with extraordinary depth. She was the undeniable fan favorite from the start, and we’re honored she answered the call. The odds, it turns out, were in our favor.”

Keep reading to find out more…

Ralph Fiennes, Joseph Zada,...

Confirming what’s been rumored for weeks, Elle Fanning is now set for the role of Effie Trinket, stylist for Haymitch Abernathy in the lead-up to the 50th Hunger Games, in Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, an adaptation of the bestseller by Suzanne Collins.

Fanning’s role was played by Elizabeth Banks in earlier installments. Joseph Zada plays Abernathy in Sunrise, with Whitney Peak as his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Others in the cast include Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, and Ralph Fiennes as President Snow.

Published March 18, the latest installment in Collins’ dystopian YA book series revisits the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also...