Excitement is building across the UK as fans of The Hunger Games franchise get their first proper look at the upcoming film, 'Sunrise on the Reaping'. A brand new trailer has just been released, showcasing a star-studded cast and one particularly jaw-dropping character transformation.
A Star-Studded Return to Panem
The Hunger Games universe continues to expand with this latest instalment, which serves as a sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The newly released preview gives audiences an intense first look at the highly anticipated film, confirming the involvement of several major stars.
The cast includes Mckenna Grace as tribute Maysilee Donner, Ralph Fiennes reprising his role as the sinister President Coriolanus Snow, Elle Fanning taking on the part of Effie Trinket, and Kieran Culkin appearing as the games' charismatic host, Caesar Flickerman. The film is scheduled for a global release on November 20, 2026.
Glenn Close's Unrecognisable New Role
While the entire cast is impressive, it is veteran actress Glenn Close who has stolen the spotlight and sent social media into a frenzy. Close is set to play Drusilla Sickle, a high-ranking Hunger Games official, and her physical transformation for the role is profound.
In the trailer, she is seen being wheeled into a scene, declaring to the citizens of Panem, "Welcome Panem to the glorious reaping of District 12." Her appearance is strikingly different, featuring a sharp, short red bob, bold red lipstick, and heavy, dramatic makeup that makes her nearly unrecognisable.
Fans were quick to react online. One admirer commented, "Was honestly so confused because she had the aura of Glenn Close but I didn’t recognise her, that makeup is insane!" Another noted her perfect casting, writing, "Glenn Close stepping into the Hunger Games world just feels so right. She brings that calm scary elegance without even saying a word."
The performance is already generating awards buzz, with a fourth fan exclaiming, "Give Glenn Close her Oscar for The Hunger Games right now." Even those outside the fandom took notice, with one user stating, "I have no interest in Hunger Games but Glenn Close looks unrecognisable in those pics being shown online from the trailer."
What is 'Sunrise on the Reaping' About?
The film is based on the 2025 dystopian novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. The story is set in the world of Panem, 24 years before the original Hunger Games trilogy featuring Katniss Everdeen.
The plot begins on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, a significant event known as the second quarter quell. This story will explore the early life of a familiar character from the original films, a young Haymitch Abernathy, who would later become Katniss's mentor.
With a compelling story and a cast delivering stunning transformations, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is poised to be a major cinematic event when it arrives in 2026.
