Ralph Fiennes is stepping into the formidable shoes of the late Donald Sutherland to portray President Coriolanus Snow in the upcoming "Hunger Games" prequel, "Sunrise on the Reaping." The film, slated for release on November 20, 2026, will explore Snow's character approximately 24 years before Katniss Everdeen enters the arena, offering a fresh perspective on the iconic villain's rise to power.

Fiennes, known for his compelling portrayals of complex characters such as Lord Voldemort in the "Harry Potter" series and Amon Goeth in "Schindler's List," has expressed his enthusiasm and respect for the role, acknowledging the significant impact Sutherland had on the character. In a recent interview, while promoting his upcoming movie "28 Years Later," Fiennes shared his admiration for Sutherland, stating, "I worked with Donald Sutherland once. I thought he was fantastic. Obviously big shoes to sort of stand alongside of, but he brought wonderful complexity to that part and I'm playing a slightly younger version of him. I am challenged but excited. I'm looking forward to it."

Fiennes also emphasized that he wouldn't attempt to directly imitate Sutherland's performance. "Look, I'm a Donald Sutherland fan. I'm not going to try and be Donald Sutherland, because no one can be him," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "But I think the character he created is very complex… The complexity of that psychology, I hope I can echo in some way.”

The casting of Fiennes has been met with excitement from both fans and the production team. Producer Nina Jacobson expressed her long-held desire to work with the actor, stating, “We wanted to honor Donald Sutherland by having one of this generation's greatest actors play President Snow 24 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the arena. Working with Ralph has been on my bucket list since he traumatized me for life in Schindler's List. It's genuinely a thrill to welcome him to The Hunger Games.”

"Sunrise on the Reaping" is based on Suzanne Collins's latest novel in the "Hunger Games" series. The prequel will delve into the events surrounding the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, and Haymitch Abernathy's victory. The movie will star Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Molly McCann, Iona Bell, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin and Ben Wang.

Fiennes and Sutherland previously starred together in the 2006 film "Land of the Blind".

The film is set to hit cinemas on November 20, 2026.