Acclaimed actress Glenn Close undergoes a staggering physical transformation in the newly released teaser for the next The Hunger Games prequel film. The 78-year-old star is almost unrecognisable as she embodies her new role in the dystopian franchise.
A Dramatic Capitol Transformation
In the first look at The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Close appears as Capitol official Drusilla Sickle. The veteran actress is shrouded in heavy facial prosthetics, sporting thin, sharply arched eyebrows, vivid lipstick, and a striking angular bob haircut in a vibrant shade of orange.
Studio Lionsgate unveiled the highly anticipated trailer on Thursday, building excitement for the film's scheduled release in November 2026. This new instalment returns to the universe based on Suzanne Collins's bestselling dystopian novels, which originally followed heroine Katniss Everdeen.
Haymitch's Story Takes Centre Stage
While the original series centred on Katniss's ordeal in the 74th Hunger Games, Sunrise on the Reaping will focus on her future mentor, Haymitch Abernathy. The plot follows his selection as a tribute from District 12 for the 50th Annual Hunger Games, a special event known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Joseph Zada takes on the role of a young Haymitch, a character originally portrayed by Woody Harrelson as a gruff and perpetually inebriated guide. The teaser offers a glimpse of Zada's Haymitch in his games arena, hinting at his different nature with the line: "I think these games are gonna be different."
Close has expressed her enthusiasm for the part, telling Entertainment Tonight, "I just think of character stuff as really fun. I'm doing The Hunger Games now and that's another amazing collaboration I'm having fun with."
An All-Star Cast Assembles
The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast. McKenna Grace and Whitney Peak play Maysilee Donner and Lenore Dove Baird respectively. They are joined by a host of other major names.
Ralph Fiennes steps into the role of the tyrannical President Coriolanus Snow, while Kieran Culkin appears as flamboyant television host Caesar Flickerman. The cast also includes Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, and Maya Hawke as Wiress.
Fans are also treated to a brief look at Elle Fanning as a young Effie Trinket, the colourful Capitol escort originally played by Elizabeth Banks. This latest prequel is set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen would volunteer for her sister, and 40 years after the events of the previous prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
The original film series, released between 2012 and 2015, was a global box office phenomenon, grossing over $3.3 billion worldwide. The most recent prequel continued this success, earning over $300 million in 2023. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is slated for release on 20 November 2026.
