Kieran Culkin Cast as Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Kieran Culkin, the Oscar-winning actor, has been cast as Caesar Flickerman in the forthcoming Lionsgate film, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.
The film is an adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel and is set to hit theaters on November 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence will direct the movie from a script by Billy Ray. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Culkin’s casting is a significant addition to the film, which has already announced a talented ensemble cast, including Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, and Ben Wang.
Culkin will be playing the iconic role of Caesar Flickerman, the eccentric host of the Hunger Games. This role was previously portrayed by Stanley Tucci in the series’ first four films, which kicked off with The Hunger Games hitting theaters in 2012. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, Caesar is a pivotal character in the Hunger Games universe, and Culkin’s "scene-stealing presence and undeniable charm" make him an ideal fit for the role.
The film’s producers are confident that Culkin will bring a new energy to the character. "Kieran’s magnetism, wit, and unpredictability make him a perfect fit for Caesar Flickerman," says Nina Jacobson, producer for Color Force. "A host like Caesar transforms brutality into entertainment, and an actor as layered as Kieran makes sure we don’t look away." Erin Westerman, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president, adds, "Kieran’s scene-stealing presence and undeniable charm are perfect for Caesar Flickerman, the sickeningly watchable host of Panem’s darkest spectacle."
The Hollywood Reporter also reports that the film’s cast includes 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. The film is produced by Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson for Color Force, with Cameron MacConomy executive producing.
The book Sunrise on the Reaping takes place in Panem on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, 24 years before the events in The Hunger Games, the first novel that published in 2008. The franchise’s first five movies have surpassed $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office, with the initial four films led by Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen.
Culkin’s casting in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping comes on the heels of his Oscar win for best supporting actor for A Real Pain. He is also a three-time Emmy nominee for Succession and currently stars on Broadway in Glengarry Glen Ross alongside Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Culkin is represented by WME, Brookside Artist Management, and Relevant.
Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien will oversee Sunrise on the Reaping for Lionsgate, while Phil Strina handled the deal on behalf of the studio. With Culkin on board, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is shaping up to be a highly anticipated film in the franchise’s future. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, Culkin’s involvement in the project is sure to generate excitement among fans of the series.
