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Leaked concept art for Avengers: Secret Wars (perhaps Avengers: Doomsday) has seemingly confirmed that the MCU will introduce a new T'Challa ahead of Black Panther 3.

After Chadwick Boseman's passing, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever confirmed that his character had also died. Shuri then inherited the mantle, and the sequel ended by revealing the fallen hero secretly had a son with Nakia, a young boy named T'Challa II (a.k.a. Toussaint).

While Avengers: Secret Wars' Black Panther may be a Variant, we think Toussaint is going to be aged up before picking up where his father left off in the Mutant Saga. With all that in mind, we're now taking a look at the actors who we believe could take over this role in the MCU.

You can check out our top suggestions by clicking on the "Next"/"View List" buttons below.

8. Aldis Hodge

Aldis Hodge is no stranger to...

Disney+ UK is about more than Marvel and Star Wars stuff. Here’s a bunch of underappreciated films on the service.

Many of us subscribed to Disney+ to always have a bunch of Disney productions at hand.. You know, in case I simply need to watch The Lion King at 2am and can’t find my DVD in the dark.

But the streaming service offers so much more than just the well known favourites. There’s a whole sea of incredible films to discover – but with such extensive libraries, they can be hard to find. We’ve done our best to highlight 31 underrated films that you should give a chance to. This’ll be updated over time, too.

Here they are:

Clock Credit: Hulu / Disney+

Ella (Dianna Agron) doesn’t want kids. She never has, even though everyone around her seems to be pressuring her, insisting that she does. It...

Exclusive: Ja’Quan Monroe-Henderson, one of the stars of National Geographic’s Genius: MLK/X, has signed with Established Artists for management.

In Genius: MLK/X, Monroe-Henderson portrayed a young John Lewis, capturing the early resolve of a civil rights icon whose moral leadership would help define a movement. He starred alongside Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre.

Recently building out a resume of work with some of today’s best known filmmakers, the actor has been seen in Ryan Coogler’s Warner Bros. smash Sinners, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds of Kindness, Paul Schrader’s Master Gardener, and RaMell Ross’ Oscar-nominated drama Nickel Boys, an Amazon MGM/Orion Pictures title based on the novel from Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead.

Upcoming, he’ll be seen in Blumhouse/Universal’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, as well as A24’s crime drama Primetime from director Lance Oppenheim.

“Ja’Quan is a fearless...

Lionsgate has officially started production on The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, with cameras rolling in Spain on the highly anticipated adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ latest novel. A new behind-the-scenes video released by the studio shows the crew and director Francis Lawrence kicking off the shoot, signaling the first step toward the film’s November 20, 2026 worldwide release.

Returning to the franchise he helped define, Lawrence is directing from a screenplay by Billy Ray, with long-time producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force once again steering the project. Cameron MacConomy serves as executive producer, while Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien oversee for Lionsgate.

Set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen’s name was drawn, Sunrise on the Reaping begins on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games — the infamous Second Quarter Quell. The story follows District 12’s Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada) through the brutal arena experience that forged the sharp-tongued,...

There’s a new Hunger Games movie in the works. This film will take place 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and 24 years before the original Hunger Games story. The story focuses on Panem during its 2nd Quarter Quell, starting on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games. In this film, viewers will see a young Haymitch Abernathy as one of the contestants.

Director Francis Lawrence will direct the movie, which is set to be released on November 20, 2026. The screenplay will be written by Billy Ray and Suzanne Collins, who created the Hunger Games series.

The cast includes several familiar faces and new stars. Ralph Fiennes will play President Snow, taking over the role from Donald Sutherland. Elle Fanning returns as Effie Trinket, and Mckenna Grace plays Maysilee Donner.

Other actors in the film include Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman,...

Lionsgate has officially confirmed plans to bring a new Hunger Games movie to the big screen. This film will take place 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and 24 years before the original Hunger Games story.

It will focus on Panem during its 2nd Quarter Quell, starting on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games. Fans will get to see a young Haymitch Abernathy as one of the participants.

Francis Lawrence will direct the movie, which is set to be released on November 20, 2026. The screenplay will be written by Billy Ray and Suzanne Collins, the creator of the Hunger Games series.

The cast includes some well-known names. Ralph Fiennes will take on the role of President Snow, replacing Donald Sutherland who played the character in previous films. Elle Fanning returns as Effie Trinket, and Mckenna Grace will play Maysilee Donner.

Other actors joining the project include Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee,...

Elle Fanning said Hunger Games fans are the reason she was cast as Effie Trinket in the upcoming prequel film.

During a recent interview with MTV, the actress chatted about her casting in Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping and taking the role over from Elizabeth Banks, who portrayed an older version of Effie in the franchise’s first four films.

“It was funny because I think fans made this happen in a way,” Fanning said. “The studio [Lionsgate] said they were getting kind of hounded online, like, ‘Elle needs to play Effie.’”

The A Complete Unknown star added that she’s especially excited to play Effie because she’s been “a huge fan” for some time.

“Effie has always been my favorite character,” she explained. “I think Elizabeth Banks brought so much — just even beyond those books — layers to that character. I love her, and I have got to talk to Elizabeth.

One of Hollywood's premier nepo babies (and we say that with love), as the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, Dakota Johnson was always going to be able to have a career in the entertainment industry if she wanted it. And although she's had a few missteps over the years, she's also been in a number of spectacular films.

With an easy charm and a dry sense of humor, Johnson can usually be relied upon to make a positive impression in whatever movies she appears in. She's been acting for 15 years now (not counting a childhood cameo in her mother's film "Crazy in Alabama" back in 1999), so she has plenty of credits in her filmography. But which of her movies are the best of the best? Some are high-profile blockbusters, while others are smaller indies, but they're all top-tier Dakota Johnson films.

Read more: The 15 Best 'So-Bad-It's-Good' Movies Of...

Iris Apatow and Edvin Ryding are officially heading to Panem. Lionsgate has announced that the two young stars will portray Capitol University students Proserpina and Vitus in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the upcoming prequel film entering production this summer. Their characters are assigned to the prep team for the District 12 Tributes — a duo whose journey will take center stage in the highly anticipated adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ latest novel. They join a loaded cast led by Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Jesse Plemons, Billy Porter, and Lili Taylor. Rising stars Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, and Ben Wang round out the Districts' new generation of players.

Previously announced supporting cast members include Laura Marcus as Silka, Percy Daggs IV as Ampert, Rada Rae as Wellie, Jhaleil Swaby as Panache, John Doeble as Buck, Alina Reid as Kerna, Salimou Thiam as Clayton,...

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has cast Katniss Everdeen’s parents.The upcoming prequel movie has added Scot Greenan and Grace Ackary as Burdock Everdeen and Asterid March, respectively - the father and mother of Jennifer Lawrence’s iconic heroine from the original Hunger Games films.It has also been announced that Melody Chikakane Brown and Jefferson White have joined The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as Hattie Meeney and Mr. McCoy, respectively. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will feature Joseph Zada in the lead role of Haymitch Abernathy - the character previously played by Woody Harrelson in the original tetralogy - while Whitney Peak has been cast as his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Maya Hawke will take on the role of Wiress, the former Hunger Games victor who now mentors the tributes of District 12, while Mckenna Grace will portray District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner. Jesse Plemons,...

Katniss Everdeen's parents have been cast in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The most recent Hunger Games book by Suzanne Collins follows Haymitch Abernathy during the Second Quarter Quell, which takes place 24 years before Katniss' first Games.

Most of the key characters have already been announced for theSunrise on the Reapingmovie cast, including Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier.

The Hunger Games now reveals that Scot Greenan has been cast as Burdock Everdeen and Grace Ackary as Asterid March. Burdock is Katniss' father and Asterid is Katniss' mother, with Sunrise on the Reaping being the first time when the names of Katniss' parents are stated. Haymitch and Burdock are close friends during their time in District 12.

The...

Lionsgate has partnered with a long list of international distributors to release “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” to audiences around the globe.

The studio is set to release “Sunrise on the Reaping” in North America and the United Kingdom on Nov. 26, 2026, but it will reach broader audiences by way of partnerships across various territories. Lionsgate’s international distribution partners on the film include Leonine in Germany, Metropolitan Film in France, Notorious in Italy, Nordisk in Scandinavia, Belga in Benelux, Forum in Eastern Europe and Israel, Ascot Elite in Switzerland, Pris in Portugal, Empire Entertainment in South Africa, Spentzos in Greece, Bg Filmcilik in Turkey, Acme in the Baltics, Myndform in Iceland and Idc across Latin America. Negotiations for distribution in additional markets are still ongoing.

“Sunrise on the Reaping” will be the sixth film in Lionsgate’s “Hunger Game” franchise, which has collectively grossed $3.3 billion at the box office.

Lionsgate has locked in a host of independent international distribution partners for The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping, which begins filming this summer.

The sixth installment in the billion dollar franchise is due to be released from November 20, 2026.

Lionsgate will release the film in North America and the UK. International partners include Leonine (Germany), Metropolitan Film (France), Notorious (Italy), Nordisk (Scandinavia), Belga (Benelux), Forum, Ascot Elite (Switzerland), Pris (Portugal), Empire Entertainment (South Africa), Spentzos (Greece), Bg Filmcilik (Turkey), Acme (Baltics), Myndform (Iceland), and Idc (Latin America), a 50/50 joint venture with Lionsgate. Negotiations are ongoing in additional markets.

As we revealed in recent months, some of the asking prices were big here. There was also strong studio interest, including from Amazon and Sony. In the end, the project has stayed with the indies,...

Lionsgate has revealed a raft of international sales deals on The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the upcoming sixth installment of the company’s $3.3bn-grossing franchise.

International distribution partners on the film, set for worldwide release on November 20, 2026, include Leonine (Germany), Metropolitan Film (France), Notorious (Italy), Nordisk (Scandinavia), Belga (Benelux), Forum (Eastern Europe and Israel), Ascot Elite (Switzerland), Pris (Portugal), Empire Entertainment (South Africa), Spentzos (Greece), Bg Filmcilik (Turkey), Acme (Baltics), Myndform (Iceland) and Idc, a joint venture with Lionsgate (Latin America).

Lionsgate, which reports ongoing negotiations in additional markets, will release the film in North America and the UK.

Chris Pine, Lily-Rose Depp, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Doona Bae have joined the cast of Alpha Gang.The quartet have become the latest additions to the ensemble of the sci-fi comedy film from directors the Zellner brothers.They join previously announced stars Cate Blanchett, Lea Seydoux and Dave Bautista.When Alpha Gang was first announced last October, Channing Tatum, Zoe Kravitz and Steven Yeun were all set to be in the cast but have since dropped out for reasons that are unclear.Insiders have attributed their exits to a multitude of factors, including scheduling issues.The flick follows a group of alien invaders who are sent to conquer Earth disguised as a leather-clad 1950s biker gang.The extraterrestrials are ruthless in their mission until they fall victim to the most contagious human condition of them all – emotion.David and Nathan Zellner are both directing and producing the film while Blanchett...

Chris Pine and Lily-Rose Depp are among the stars joining the cast of an upcoming alien invasion comedy.

Chris, 44, and Lily-Rose, 26, were confirmed to be joining the cast of Alpha Gang by Deadline.

Along with Chris and Lily-Rose, Deadline reports that 30-year-old Mufasa: The Lion King star Kelvin Harrison Jr. and 45-year-old Sense8 star Doona Bae will also be joining the cast.

Keep reading to find out more…

These new additions to the cast join Cate Blanchett, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, and Riley Keough who were already announced to be part of the cast.

Details about the characters they’ll be playing are unclear at the moment. According to Deadline, Alpha Gang is an alien invasion comedy about “alien invaders sent to conquer Earth. Disguised in human form as a 1950s leather-clad biker gang, they are ruthless in their mission… until they succumb to the most toxic and contagious human condition of all: emotion.

The Zellner Brothers, the duo behind flatulence-heavy comedy Sasquatch Sunset, are getting weird with alien invasions in the comedy Alpha Gang. Deadline reports today that Chris Pine (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) and Lily-Rose Depp (Nosferatu) are among the newest cast members.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Doona Bae (Rebel Moon) join Pine and Depp; character details remain under wraps.

Alpha Gang follows “a group of alien invaders sent to conquer Earth. Disguised in human form as a 1950s leather-clad biker gang, they are ruthless in their mission… until they succumb to the most toxic and contagious human condition of all: emotion.”

The alien invasion comedy is said to take place in a heightened reality, lensed by cinematographer Mike Gioulakis. Based on the plot description and the Zellner Brothers’ previous work, it feels safe to expect things to get weird with their latest.

Cate Blanchett, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, and Riley Keough,...

Director David Zellner has credits going back to 1997, when he made his feature directorial debut with the comedy Plastic Utopia, working from a screenplay he wrote with his brother, visual effects artist Nathan Zellner. As of the 2018 Western Damsel, the Zellner Brothers became a directing duo, and in 2020 it was announced that they were going to be making an alien invasion comedy called Alpha Gang, with Andrea Riseborough, Jon Hamm, Nicholas Hoult, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Mackenzie Davis, Sofia Boutella, and Steven Yeun attached to star in the film. But Alpha Gang missed its 2021 production start date and the Zellner Brothers made Sasquatch Sunset instead. Nine months ago, it was announced that the Zellners were circling back to Alpha Gang, and the impressive cast they originally had lined up was replaced by a different impressive bunch of actors: Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer), Dave Bautista (Knock at the Cabin), Léa Seydoux (No Time to Die...

Exclusive: Chris Pine (Star Trek), Lily-Rose Depp (Nosferatu), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Mufasa: The Lion King), and Doona Bae (Rebel Moon) are new additions to the cast of Alpha Gang, the alien invasion comedy from the Zellner Brothers (Sasquatch Sunset).

Character details are under wraps. As previously announced, Cate Blanchett, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, and Riley Keough will also star.

When the project was announced in October 2024, Channing Tatum, Zoë Kravitz, and Steven Yeun were also in the ensemble, though they’ve since fallen out for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. Sources attributed it to a combination of factors including scheduling that are constantly in flux for a great many indie film packages.

Alpha Gang follows a group of alien invaders sent to conquer Earth. Disguised in human form as a 1950s leather-clad biker gang, they are ruthless in their mission… until they succumb to the most toxic and contagious human condition of all: emotion.

Exclusive: Weruche Opia has been cast in ABC’s one-hour drama pilot Rj Decker, joining the previously announced Scott Speedman. Rob Doherty created the series based on the 1987 novel Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen.

Rj Decker (Speedman), disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con, starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of South Florida, tackling cases that range from slightly odd to outright bizarre with the help of his journalist ex, her police detective wife, and a shadowy new benefactor, a woman from his past who could be his greatest ally… or his one-way ticket back to prison.

Opia will play Shay Bennett, the shrewd-if-unpredictable daughter of a very powerful, very corrupt state senator with ties to Rj’s past. If the pilot gets picked up to series, Opia is positioned for a series regular role.

Executive producers include Doherty, who wrote the pilot,...

Asturias se convierte en la arena de los Quincuagésimos Juegos del Hambre. © Lionsgate

Ya es oficial: el Parque Natural de Somiedo, en pleno corazón de Asturias, será uno de los enclaves de rodaje de Los juegos del hambre: Amanecer en la cosecha. Y no es para menos. Con sus frondosos bosques y su lago rodeado de imponentes montañas, el paisaje parece hecho a medida para recrear la estética de las arenas vistas en anteriores entregas de la saga basada en las novelas de Suzanne Collins.

Pero, ojo, no será el único paraje asturiano que sirva de escenario para la película. La vecina Teverga también formará parte del itinerario de rodaje, concretamente el Hayedo de Montegrande, próximo al puerto de Ventana, considerado uno de los pulmones verdes más espectaculares del suroccidente asturiano.

Y es que, según ha adelantado el diario La Nueva España, la superproducción internacional de Lionsgate ha iniciado...

When auditioning for the role of a younger Haymitch in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel film, Sunrise on the Reaping, Joseph Zada had some competition.

In an interview with People magazine, Zada’s We Were Liars costar Emily Alyn Lind recalled talking to him when he was auditioning for the coveted role.

“So, I was FaceTiming him because he was like, ‘I’m in L.A.’ And I’m like, ‘What are you doing in L.A., loser? Let’s hang out,’ ” Emily Alyn Lind said. “And I FaceTime him and he is at this hotel and he’s being Joe. And he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m out here. You can’t tell anyone but it’s down to me and a couple [other] people for this Hunger Games thing.’”

“And I was like, ‘Oh, no fucking way. That’s so sick,’ ” Lind added. “And he’s naming names that...

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...

A new crop of tributes are entering the arena. Laura Marcus, Percy Daggs IV, Rada Rae and Jhaleil Swaby have joined the cast of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping.”

They join previously announced ensemble members Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, McKenna Grace, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, Jesse Plemons, Billy Porter, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang and Joseph Zada.

Laura Marcus stars as Silka, the career tribute from District 1. Later in 2025, Marcus will star in Netflix’s “Death By Lighting” as former U.S. president James Garfield’s daughter Mollie Garfield. She can currently be seen in the Hulu/Disney+ series “Andor” as Beela. Marcus previously starred as Elisabeth in “The Serpent Queen” for Starz, Jinx in BBC’s “Bad Education”, BBC’s “The Jetty” as Caitlin, Amazon Studios “The Devil’s Hour”, and her film starring roles include “The Great Escaper.”

Daggs...

Exclusive: Jhaleil Swaby (The Lake) has been cast in Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as Panache, a crude and aggressive career tribute from District 1, known for his arrogance and ruthlessness, sources confirm to Deadline. The film is set to premiere on November 20, 2026.

Based on the bestselling novel by Suzanne Collins, the latest installment of the Hunger Games dystopian YA franchise 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. The story centers on 16-year-old Haymitch (Joseph Zada), a clever and resourceful boy from District 12, who’s unexpectedly chosen for this edition of the games, featuring a deadly twist: twice the number of tributes, with 48 children sent into the arena to battle for their lives.

In addition to Zada, the previously announced cast includes...

‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ title art (Photo Credit: Lionsgate)

Three-time Tony Award winner Billy Porter and eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close are the latest stars to sign on to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Lionsgate announced Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes. Porter is on board as Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer.

“Glenn Close is a dream Drusilla. She brings so much of her intellect and imagination to each role, creating characters who are unforgettable and iconic. I think Glenn and Francis [Lawrence] will have a ball bringing Drusilla from the page to the screen,” stated producer Nina Jacobson.

Jacobson had this to say about Billy Porter’s casting: “Billy is one of those rare performers who can dazzle and devastate in equal measure on stage and screen. He made an indelible impression on me...

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have been cast in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.The Fatal Attraction actress has signed up to play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the tributes of District 12, while the Pose star will play her estranged husband Magno Stift, who serves as the contestants' uninspired designer.News of their casting was confirmed during Lionsgate's presentation at CineEurope.It follows the recent news that Succession actor Kieran Culkin will appear in the film as Caesar Flickerman - the character first played by Stanley Tucci in the original ‘Hunger Games’ films.Joseph Zada 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...

The Hunger Games franchise is getting full. 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 when the novel was released. 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.

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have joined the star-studded cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' bestselling novel of the same name. The ensemble has been growing at a rapid rate, as the prequel continues to introduce more characters from the page to the screen, and now there are two more in the mix. Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter stars as Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes' uninspired designer.

Throughout her storied acting career on stage and screen, Close, an eight-time Oscar nominee, has become known for portraying iconic villains and complex characters who demand authority, particularly Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction and Cruella de Vil in Disney's live-action remake of 101 Dalmatians, which should serve her well in bringing Drusilla to life, as she is just as mean-spirited and twisted as the others.

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have nabbed roles in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter snagged the role of Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer. Close has earlier movies credits like Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs, The Wife and 101 Dalmatians.

Veteran stage actor Porter earned a Tony Award and a Grammy Award for Kinky Boots, and Tony Awards for his production of the best musical winner A Strange Loop. Francis Lawrence directs the movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel that will hit theaters Nov. 20, 2026.

Cast members earlier announced include Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin. Lawrence will direct the latest Hunger Games installment from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray.

Additional casting has been announced for the upcoming next installment in the Hunger Games film series, titled Sunrise on the Reaping. The cast will now include stage and screen icons Billy Porter and Glenn Close. Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, and Porter is Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes' designer. The duo join the previously announced cast of Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin. Francis Lawrence directs the adaptation of the book by Suzanne Collins. Sunrise on the Reaping is the second prequel to the original The Hunger Games trilogy, following The Ballad of Songbirds...

The production of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is building an even bigger all-star cast list. Lionsgate is now announcing that Glenn Close has been cast as Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, and three-time Tony Award winner Billy Porter has been cast as Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer.

On Close joining the cast, Producer Nina Jacobson said, “Glenn Close is a dream Drusilla. She brings so much of her intellect and imagination to each role, creating characters who are unforgettable and iconic. I think Glenn and Francis will have a ball bringing Drusilla from the page to the screen.”

Jacobson continued to glow with the casting of Porter, “Billy is one of those rare performers who can dazzle and devastate in equal measure on stage and screen. He made an indelible impression on me when we worked together on Pose,...

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have joined the sprawling cast of “Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.”

Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter will portray Magno Stift, her estranged husband and designer to the Tributes. They’ll joined the previously announced ensemble of Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, “Sunrise on the Reaping” will revisit the world of Panem nearly a quarter of a century before the events of the original “Hunger Games” saga. It starts on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, in which Haymitch Abernathy enters the deadly arena. In 2012’s “Hunger Games,” Haymitch serves as a mentor to Jennifer Lawrence...

The latest “Hunger Games” movie has expanded its cast with two awards show heavy hitters. Glenn Close and Billy Porter have been added to “Sunrise on the Reaping” to play Drusilla Sickle and Magno Stift, respectively.

They will join previously announced cast members Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin. The prequel movie about the 50th Hunger Games is set to be released on Nov. 20, 2026.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ fifth book in the series, “Sunrise on the Reaping” is set 24 years before the events of the original trilogy. This story starts off during the morning of the 2nd Quarter Quell, meaning 48 children will compete in the game to the death instead of the usual 24. Katniss and Peeta’s mentor Haymitch Abernathy (played by Woody Harrelson in the original trilogy and by Joseph Zada...

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have officially joined the cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ latest Hunger Games novel. Lionsgate announced the casting today, confirming Close as Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort of District 12 Tributes, and Porter as Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the disillusioned designer assigned to the doomed pair.

The pair join an already unbelievable ensemble cast, which includes Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, and Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman. Producer Nina Jacobson praised the latest additions, saying:

“Glenn Close is a dream Drusilla. She brings so much of her intellect and imagination to each role,...

Exclusive: Eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close and three-time Tony winner Billy Porter are the latest additions to the cast of Lionsgate’s anticipated The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter is Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer.

Close and Porter join Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin in the Francis Lawrence-directed adaptation of the bestselling book by Suzanne Collins.

The casting news was made official during Lionsgate’s presentation here at CineEurope.

Sunrise on the Reaping will be released on November 20, 2026. Lawrence is directing 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...

Rising young actor Joseph Zada has finally broken his silence regarding his major casting in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. In the prequel, the Australian star will be playing the leading role of a young Haymitch Abernathy, a fan-favorite character originally played by Woody Harrelson in the blockbuster franchise.

During an interview with Deadline, Zada opened up about the highly-anticipated Hunger Games prequel, confirming that he has already read the scripts. “I've seen scripts. I can't say anything, [...] I've read the book twice already. [...] I'm a very, very, very big fan of everything to do with it and the whole cast and everyone involved. I'm so ridiculously nervous," he said. This marks Zada’s first high-profile movie project, after previously starring in Australian shows like Total Control and Invincible Boys. The young actor will next be seen in the upcoming Prime Video thriller series We Were Liars with Emily Alyn Lind.

"The Lion King" is the 1994 hit film based on William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," and it tells a story of deception that leads one lion to seek justice for the father he lost. If you're a 1990s kid like me, you know this story like the back of your hand, and you can probably sing "Hakuna Matata" in your sleep. While we are well-versed in the lives of Simba, Mufasa, and Scar, their conflict in "The Lion King" is just the beginning. Ever since "The Lion King" made Disney the king of the box office, the company has been working diligently to create new stories in this universe and introduce new characters. This means that Mufasa and Simba's family tree has grown well beyond what we see in the original film.

A sequel, a prequel, and an adventure series have introduced several new characters that allow us to venture into new...

Kieran Culkin was one of the fan favorites to star in the upcoming Hunger Games movie Sunrise on the Reaping. After it was announced that he was cast to play Caesar Flickerman, previously played by Stanley Tucci, fans were excited to see how he would pull off this iconic minor character in this YA Dystopian franchise. But, according to the actor, he's asking fans to lower their expectations.

The actor's comments were shown in a TikTok video by @lielbernis, where he signed autographs in New York. After being told he would be an amazing Caesar, he asked to "lower those expectations," hinting that he might be aware of the fan reactions following the casting announcement and that he didn't want to disappoint anyone.

"Lower those expectations, please. Please do. I have no idea what I'm gonna do with that."

Like in the main trilogy, Caesar Flickerman is the Master of Ceremonies for The Hunger Games.

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.

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,...

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,...

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.

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,...

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,...

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.