Kieran Culkin Cast as Caesar in New Hunger Games Prequel

Kieran Culkin, acclaimed for his role in Succession, has officially been cast as a young Caesar Flickerman in Lionsgate's upcoming adaptation of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, putting months of speculation to rest.

Lionsgate confirmed the news via their X/Twitter account today, revealing Culkin will embody Panem's flamboyant and eccentric gameshow host in next year's cinematic adaptation. Since rumors began circulating earlier this year, fans have eagerly anticipated who would step into Caesar Flickerman's spotlight. With the official announcement, anticipation builds for Lionsgate's next prequel installment.

Sunrise on the Reaping serves as another prequel in the expanding Hunger Games universe, chronologically following 2023's The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes while predating the original Jennifer Lawrence-led Hunger Games trilogy (2012-2015). Stanley Tucci originated the role of Caesar Flickerman in the original series, leaving Culkin with the challenge of portraying a younger iteration of the iconic character.

"Kieran's magnetic screen presence and effortless charm make him the ideal choice to embody Caesar Flickerman, the unsettlingly charismatic host of Panem's most brutal tradition," stated Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erin Westerman. "While Stanley Tucci created an unforgettable version of the character, Kieran will bring his own distinctive energy to the role."

Caesar Flickerman.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping - in theaters November 20, 2026. pic.twitter.com/hggGysk4Nd

- The Hunger Games (@TheHungerGames) May 21, 2025

Culkin's recent career highlights include his Emmy-winning performance as Roman Roy in HBO's Succession and his Oscar-winning turn in A Real Pain (2024). Longtime fans may also remember his early roles in classics like 1990's Home Alone (alongside brother Macaulay Culkin) and 1991's Father of the Bride. His razor-sharp comedic timing and dramatic range make him particularly suited to portray the Capitol's charismatic yet unsettling gameshow host.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026. The star-studded cast includes Ralph Fiennes (The King's Man) reprising his role as Coriolanus Snow, alongside newcomers Elle Fanning (The Great) as Effie Trinket, Jesse Plemons (Killers of the Flower Moon) as Plutarch Heavensbee, and Joseph Zada (Dune: Part Two) as Haymitch Abernathy.