Los Angeles — The Hunger Games franchise is pulling no punches with its latest casting bombshell. On April 25, Lionsgate confirmed that Jesse Plemons will take on the role of a young Plutarch Heavensbee in the upcoming film Sunrise on the Reaping, the prequel to the blockbuster dystopian series. The character, a cunning Capitol insider, was brought to life by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in Catching Fire and both Mockingjay films. Now, Plemons, a 37-year-old Texan with a knack for stealing scenes, is set to carry the torch.
This isn’t just a random casting choice—it’s a full-circle moment. Back in 2012, Plemons played Hoffman’s son in Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master, a film that had critics buzzing and earned three Oscar nods. Fast-forward to 2025, and Plemons is stepping into Hoffman’s iconic role, a move that’s got fans and industry insiders talking. The announcement, dropped on a Friday, sent ripples through Hollywood, with trade publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety breaking the news almost simultaneously.
Sunrise on the Reaping, based on Suzanne Collins’ novel, dives into the Hunger Games universe decades before Katniss Everdeen’s rebellion. At this point in the timeline, Plutarch isn’t yet the mastermind we know from the later films. He’s a cameraman in District 12, staging the grim spectacle of the reaping, where kids are chosen for the Capitol’s deadly games. The film, slated to hit theaters on November 20, 2026, promises a gritty look at the early days of Panem’s oppression, with Plemons’ Plutarch front and center.
Plemons, known for his work in everything from Breaking Bad to Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, brings a chameleon-like intensity to his roles. His casting follows months of speculation about who’d fill Hoffman’s shoes, especially since the beloved actor’s death in 2014 left a void in the industry. Lionsgate hasn’t released details on how Plemons will approach the character, but the studio’s statement emphasized his “unique connection” to Hoffman, nodding to their shared history in The Master.
The film’s production is ramping up, with director Francis Lawrence—who helmed every Hunger Games movie since Catching Fire—returning to the franchise. Collins’ novel, published in 2024, has already topped bestseller lists, setting high expectations for the adaptation. Plemons joins a cast that’s still taking shape, with no other major roles announced as of April 26.
Plemons is also juggling other high-profile projects. He’s set to star in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, another 2026 release, proving he’s one of Hollywood’s busiest actors. For now, though, all eyes are on his take on Plutarch Heavensbee, a role that demands both subtlety and gravitas.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026.