Glenn CloseandBilly Porterhave joined the star-studded cast ofThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,the upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' bestselling novel of the same name. The ensemble has been growing at a rapid rate, as the prequel continues to introduce more characters from the page to the screen, and now there are two more in the mix. Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter stars as Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes' uninspired designer.
Throughouther storied acting careeron stage and screen, Close, an eight-time Oscar nominee, has become known for portraying iconic villains and complex characters who demand authority, particularly Alex Forrest inFatal Attractionand Cruella de Vil in Disney’s live-action remake of101 Dalmatians, which should serve her well in bringing Drusilla to life, as she is just as mean-spirited and twisted as the others.The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingproducer Nina Jacobson called Close’s casting as the Capitol escort “a dream”:
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“Glenn Close is a dream Drusilla. She brings so much of her intellect and imagination to each role, creating characters who are unforgettable and iconic. I think Glenn and Francis will have a ball bringing Drusilla from the page to the screen.”
Three-time Tony Award winner, Porter, is another accomplished actor, recognized for his critically acclaimed Broadway performances and his groundbreaking turn in the FX seriesPose, leading tomany more roles on the big and small screen.He is also considered a fashion icon, having made headlines with his red carpet looks, so it will be interesting to see the designs that he sports as District 12’s incompetent stylist. Jacobson, who served as an executive producer onPose, expressed her excitement over reteaming with Porter:
“Billy is one of those rare performers who can dazzle and devastate in equal measure on stage and screen. He made an indelible impression on me when we worked together onPose, both as an actor and a human being. Casting this show has felt like winning the lottery every time one of our idols said yes to us. To be able to announce Glenn Close and Billy Porter together is an embarrassment of riches that we can all celebrate.”
What Is ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ About?
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingisset 24 years beforethe events of Katniss Everdeen’s reaping day inThe Hunger Games(and 40 years after the events ofThe Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes). The story, adapted for the screen by Billy Ray, chronicles the morning of the 50th Annual Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, in which 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy is selected to enter the deadly battle on behalf of District 12. In the film, Joseph Zada will play the character that Woody Harrelson originated on screen.
In addition to Zada and the newly-enlisted duo of Close and Porter,The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingfeatures 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, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Molly McCann as Louella McCoy, Iona Bell as Louella’s lookalike Lou Lo, and, another recent addition,Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingis the second prequel of the blockbuster film franchise, following 2023’s divisiveThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which centered around a young Corionalus Snow. The next chapter will open in theaters on Jun 24, 2025 — the same month as Greta Gerwig’s new adaptation ofThe Chronicles of Narnia, the fourth movie in theMeet the Parentsfilm series, and a mystery Marvel Studios movie that has yet to be confirmed but is positioned inthe MCU’s Phase 6 slate.
Source: Lionsgate
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
