The recast of President Coriolanus Snow forThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingis a sad reminder of Donald Sutherland. In the four originalHunger Gamesmovies,Sutherland played the role of the villainous President Snow. His performance is widely considered to be among the best in the movies through his ability to capture the character’s cruelty, manipulative nature, air of superiority, and how much he revels in the suffering of others.
The latestHunger Gamesbook,Sunrise on the Reaping, expands President Snow’s story during the second Quarter Quell, which is the Hunger Games that Haymitch Abernathy goes on to win. Like all the other previous books, it is being adapted into a movie. TheSunrise on the Reapingcastnow includes Ralph Fiennes in the role of President Snow, which is a promising casting choice while also being a sad reminder ofDonald Sutherland’s passing.
Donald Sutherland Passed Away Last Year, Before Sunrise On The Reaping’s Movie Started Casting
He Passed Away Shortly After Sunrise On The Reaping’s Initial Announcement
Sunrise on the Reaping’s casting of President Snow is a reminder of Sutherland passing away on June 18, 2025. FromMAS*HtoThe Hunger Games, Sutherland had an extensive, diverse, and impressive career, and his passing was a tragic loss. Ithappened only two weeks after the initial announcement that Suzanne Collins would be writingSunrise on the Reapingand that there would be a movie adaptation as well. With the book not releasing until July 04, 2025, casting had not started at the time of Sutherland’s passing, and only began after the novel’s release.
Sunrise On The Reaping Was Always Likely To Recast President Snow (Again)
The Timeline Necessitated Another Recast
Snow was already recast forThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, with Tom Blyth playing the role inThe Hunger Gamestimeline64 years before the events of the first book and movie. The prequel tells the story of Snow shaping the Hunger Games into the spectacle that it will become, along with beginning to chart the course to becoming the dictator of Panem.Sunrise on the Reapingis another prequel, but with it beingset 24 years before the 74th Hunger Games won by Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, another recast was always likely, even before Sutherland’s tragic passing.
Some of Sutherland’s dialogue as President Snow was incorporated intoThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' ending, which features him saying the line “It’s the things we love most that destroy us,” which is first heard inThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1.There is still a possibility of Sutherland’s previous Snow dialogue being incorporated into theSunrise on the Reapingmovie in a similar way, or the adaptation may find other unique ways to honor the actor’s enduring legacy despite the inevitable recast.
How Ralph Fiennes' President Snow Casting Still Honors Donald Sutherland
Fiennes' Casting Was Decided With Sutherland’s Legacy In Mind
Prior to Fiennes' casting being confirmed, Kiefer Sutherland was widely considered to be theperfect President Snow recastingthat would honor Donald Sutherland’sHunger Gameslegacy. The decision to cast Fiennes was still made with Sutherland in mind, though, with producer Nina Jacobson explaining that theywanted to honor Sutherland by casting one of this generation’s greatest actors. Jacobson also mentioned the lasting impact Fiennes’Schindlier’s Listperformance left on her, which makes him well-suited to play another iconic villain. Read her comments below:
We wanted to honor Donald Sutherland by having one of this generation’s greatest actors play President Snow 24 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the arena. Working with Ralph has been on my bucket list since he traumatized me for life inSchindler’s List. It’s genuinely a thrill to welcome him to the Hunger Games.
Sutherland was already one of the best actors in Hollywood for several decades before he made hisHunger Gamesdebut. BetweenSchindler’s List, theHarry Pottermovies,The Menu,Conclave, and many other notable films,Fiennes has been similarly iconic in his career. Amon Göth and Voldemort are two of cinema’s most memorable villains, and now Fiennes will add yet another one to his repertoire as Snow, who has some of his most villainous moments yet inThe Hunger Games: The Sunrise on the Reaping.
