The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has found its Caesar Flickerman. In the original movies, the Hunger Games host and interviewer was played by Stanley Tucci. Set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen’s first Hunger Games, Caesar interviews Haymitch Abernathy and the other 47 tributes in the second Quarter Quell the night before the Games start. Sunrise on the Reaping‘s cast already includes Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow, and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Kieran Culkin has now been cast as Caesar Flickerman. Culkin recently won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in recognition of her performance as Benji Kaplan in Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain. He is also known for his role as Roman Roy in HBO’s critically acclaimed series Succession, for which he won an Emmy Award.

What This Means For Sunrise On The Reaping

Caesar Flickerman Is An Important Addition To The Cast

Sunrise on the Reaping‘s cast is nearly complete, with Caesar being one of the few prominent characters whose casting had not yet been announced. Even though the latest Hunger Games book was only released in March, there has been a quick turnaround given the November 20, 2026 release date and a movie adaptation was announced alongside the novel in 2024. Having Haymitch, Maysilee, President Snow, and now Caesar along with so many other key characters ensures that filming can begin this summer as planned and the November 2026 release date can remain a reality.

Alongside Fiennes, Plemons, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, and Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Culkin is another star-studded addition to Sunrise on the Reaping‘s adult cast. Some of the characters Culkin has played in the past, including Benji in A Real Pain, can be quite charming and charismatic, and these qualities should translate well into his depiction of a younger Caesar. The character has a relatively brief, albeit important, role in the story.

Our Take On Kieran Culkin’s Sunrise On The Reaping Casting

It Is Another Excellent Choice

Sunrise on the Reaping‘s casting continues to be impressive and makes me even more excited about the upcoming adaptation. Culkin is well-suited to capturing the over-the-top performance needed to do Caesar justice. Even though Caesar will not be present as much as Haymitch, Maysilee, Plutarch and other characters, he has the potential to steal the show during the interview scenes. Culkin has the ability to make his portrayal of Caesar in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping just as memorable as Tucci’s performance in the previous movies.

Source: THR