Kieran Culkin Cast as Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Oscar winner joins Lionsgate’s anticipated prequel to portray the eccentric host made famous by Stanley Tucci.
Kieran Culkin is stepping into the world of Panem, following his Academy Award win with a high-profile role in Lionsgate’s upcoming The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The actor will portray Caesar Flickerman, the flamboyant and charismatic host of the Hunger Games, a role originally played by Stanley Tucci in the franchise’s first four installments.
The casting, confirmed exclusively by The Hollywood Reporter, adds further star power to the Francis Lawrence-directed adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ latest Hunger Games novel. Scheduled to hit theaters on November 20, 2026, the film is set 24 years before the original series and centers around the 50th Hunger Games—also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
“Kieran’s scene-stealing presence and undeniable charm are perfect for Caesar Flickerman, the sickeningly watchable host of Panem’s darkest spectacle,” said Erin Westerman, co-president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “Stanley Tucci made Caesar unforgettable — and now Kieran will make the role entirely his own.”
Producer Nina Jacobson echoed the sentiment, adding, “Kieran’s magnetism, wit, and unpredictability make him a perfect fit for Caesar. A host like Flickerman transforms brutality into entertainment, and an actor as layered as Kieran makes sure we don’t look away.”
Sunrise on the Reaping features an ensemble cast that includes Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, and Ben Wang. Previous casting announcements also confirmed Ralph Fiennes as a younger President Snow, along with Molly McCann and Iona Bell as Louella and Lou Lou, and Elle Fanning as a young Effie Trinket.
Billy Ray penned the screenplay, with Lawrence returning to helm after directing four prior entries in the franchise. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson produce for Color Force, while Cameron MacConomy serves as executive producer. Lionsgate executives Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien are overseeing the project, and Phil Strina negotiated the deal on behalf of the studio.
The Hunger Games franchise, based on Collins’ best-selling novels, has grossed more than $3.3 billion at the global box office. The new film is expected to reignite fan interest by exploring the early years of Panem’s most infamous event.
Culkin, who recently earned the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance in A Real Pain, is a three-time Emmy nominee for his critically acclaimed role in HBO’s Succession. He is currently starring on Broadway in Glengarry Glen Ross alongside Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr. Culkin is represented by WME, Brookside Artist Management, and Relevant.
