Kieran Culkin, fresh off his Oscar win for A Real Pain and an Emmy for Succession, is now stepping into the Hunger Games universe. The American actor has been cast as Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.?
Caesar is the colourful and over-the-top host of the deadly Hunger Games franchise. The same character was once played by Stanley Tucci in the original films, featuring Jennifer Lawrence.
?This upcoming film is set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen's story begins. It will focus on the Second Quarter Quell (the 50th Hunger Games), where a young Haymitch Abernathy is sent into the arena. Joseph Zada will play the younger version of Haymitch, showing fans how he first won the Games.
Kieran Culkin joins a strong cast. Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Maya Hawke, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. will all feature, with Ralph Fiennes playing President Snow. Elle Fanning has also been confirmed, along with Lili Taylor and Ben Wang. Francis Lawrence is back as director, and the script comes from Billy Ray.
?The Hunger Games franchise producer Nina Jacobson praised Culkin, saying his charm and sharp wit made him perfect for the role of Caesar Flickerman. "He turns brutality into showbiz," she added.
The film will hit cinemas on November 20, 2026. It is based on Suzanne Collins＊ bestselling novel, which has already broken records with its launch. After five films and over $3.3 billion (?2814.29 crore) at the box office, this new chapter is set to keep the Hunger Games legacy alive, this time, with an Oscar winner holding the mic.