When we think of The Hunger Games and Snow, we think of Donald Sutherland. The actor, who passed away in 2024, was iconic in the role of Snow. He terrified us and also drew us into the world of the games. He was a big reason why we loved the movies – because he played the villian so well.
With the actor gone, some said that for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, they should cast Sutherlands son, Keifer. We had no opinion – we just knew that whomever they cast had to be able to do villain well.
And we think that they’ve cast the perfect actor to play Snow. Who is it? Ralph Fiennes.
“We wanted to honor Donald Sutherland by having one of this generation’s greatest actors play President Snow 24 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the arena,” said producer Nina Jacobson of Color Force. “Working with Ralph has been on my bucket list since he traumatized me for life in Schindler’s List. It’s genuinely a thrill to welcome him to the Hunger Games.”
If you aren’t familiar with the book, it’s Haymitch’s story.
“As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.” the description starts, “Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.”
And then continues, “When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.”
Fiennes joins 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, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags, and Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow.
The movie is slated for release on November 20, 2026 Will you be watching?
