Ladies and gentlemen, we have an important announcement to make: Kieran Culkin has joined the star-studded cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as Caesar Flickerman. The flamboyant host of The Hunger Games was originally portrayed by Stanley Tucci in the franchise’s first four films, but the torch is now being passed to the Emmy Award-winning Succession star. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman noted the qualities she feels he will bring to the role via The Hollywood Reporter:
“Kieran’s scene-stealing presence and undeniable charm are perfect for Caesar Flickerman, the sickeningly watchable host of Panem’s darkest spectacle. Stanley Tucci made Caesar unforgettable—and now Kieran will make the role entirely his own.”
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Culkin has been collecting acting trophies at awards ceremonies at an outstanding rate following his memorable performance as snarky media scion Roman Roy in the immensely popular HBO series Succession, for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He had another acclaimed turn in Jesse Eisenberg’s buddy comedy-drama, A Real Pain, and he has also dabbled in voice acting work, with roles in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Solar Opposites, and #1 Happy Family USA.
The newly-enlisted Caesar Flickerman actor joins an already stacked Sunrise on the Reaping cast that features 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 Callow, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Molly McCann as Louella McCoy, Iona Bell as Louella’s lookalike Lou Lou, and, another very recent addition, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket.
Kieran Culkin Is “A Perfect Fit” for Caesar Flickerman
The upcoming prequel movie is based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 book of the same name, which takes place 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games. It chronicles the morning of the 50th Annual Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, in which Haymitch is selected to enter the deadly arena on behalf of District 12. As always, Caesar will make sure he is camera-ready to get the inside scoop from the tributes before the competition commences, and producer Nina Jacobson thinks Culkin is “a perfect fit” for the job:
“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.”
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be released in theaters on Nov. 20, 2026, and will go up against previous franchise entries for the ultimate box office battle, bearing in mind the five films so far have grossed over $3.3 billion worldwide. Francis Lawrence, who has helmed every installment since 2012’s Catching Fire, is revisiting the world of Panem to direct the movie adaptation from a script by Billy Ray. Jacobson is producing the film alongside Brad Simpson for Color Force, while Cameron MacConomy executive produces.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
