‘Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’: Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning & More Join Next Prequel Installment

We’ve seen some impressive names joining Francis Lawrence‘s latest installment of “The Hunger Games,” and we are now hearing news of a new batch of casting updates for the dystopian young-adult action-adventure movie, “Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping,” releasing from Lionsgate.

Veteran actor Ralph Fiennes (“Harry Potter” franchise) and Elle Fanning (“Predator: Badlands”), according to The Hollywood Reporter, have been tapped to play President Coriolanus Snow in the prequel film. The former is taking up the franchise villain role previously played by the late Donald Sutherland and Tom Blyth.

Fanning will play the role of stylist Effie, previously played by Elizabeth Banks.

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We’ll also see Molly McCann playing Louella, while Iona Bell is set to portray her Capitol-assigned lookalike, Lou Lou. Other recent additions to the cast are Lili Taylor (“The Conjuring”) and rising young talent Ben Wang (“Karate Kid Legends”), who recently worked with Lawrence on the upcoming Stephen King adaptation “The Long Walk“ coming to theaters on September 12.

They’ll join the “Hunger Games: Sunrise On Reaping” call sheet that already features Joseph Zada (“Invisible Boys”), Whitney Peak (“Gossip Girl”), Mckenna Grace (“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”), Jesse Plemons (“Civil War”), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (“Waves”), and Maya Hawke (“Stranger Things”).

Seasoned screenwriter and notable script doctor Billy Ray is adapting the recently published novel penned by “Hunger Games” creator and author Suzanne Collins.

The official synopsis for the novel from Amazon:

As the day dawns on the 50th annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight…and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

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The studio has already announced that “Hunger Games: Sunrise On Reaping” will be arriving in theaters on November 20, and we should expect even more names joining the film, as there are plenty of roles to fill.