Culkin\\'s recent success in the entertainment industry has been remarkable, with standout roles such as Roman Roy in Succession and Benji Kaplan in last year\\'s A Real Pain, which earned him a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award. His earlier work as a child actor in films like Father of the Bride (1991) and Home Alone (1990), where he starred alongside his brother Macaulay Culkin, has also left a lasting impression. His quick wit and charm make him an ideal fit for the role of the dystopian TV host in Sunrise on the Reaping.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is slated for release on November 20, 2026. The film will bring Suzanne Collins\\' novel of the same name to the big screen, featuring a stellar cast that includes Ralph Fiennes (Conclave, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) as President Coriolanus Snow, Elle Fanning (Super 8) as Effie Trinket, Jesse Plemons (Civil War, Breaking Bad) as Plutarch Heavensbee, and Joseph Zada (Total Control) as Haymitch Abernathy, among others.

Home News Kieran Culkin to Star as Caesar Flickerman in 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping'

Kieran Culkin to Star as Caesar Flickerman in 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping'

Author : Peyton Update : May 26,2025

Kieran Culkin, renowned for his compelling performance as Roman Roy in the hit series Succession, has officially been cast as the young Caesar Flickerman in Lionsgate's upcoming film adaptation of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The announcement, which put an end to months of swirling rumors, was confirmed by Lionsgate on X/Twitter today. Fans and readers alike had been eagerly speculating about who would take on the role of the iconic, flamboyant TV host in this eagerly awaited prequel.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is the latest addition to the Hunger Games franchise, set to take place after the events of 2023's The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and well before the Jennifer Lawrence-led Hunger Games movies that captivated audiences throughout the 2010s. Culkin's role as a youthful Caesar Flickerman follows in the footsteps of Stanley Tucci, who brought the character to life in the earlier films. "Kieran’s scene-stealing presence and undeniable charm are perfect for Caesar Flickerman, the sickeningly watchable host of Panem’s darkest spectacle," said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erin Westerman. "Stanley Tucci made Caesar unforgettable—and now Kieran will make the role entirely his own."

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 success in the entertainment industry has been remarkable, with standout roles such as Roman Roy in Succession and Benji Kaplan in last year's A Real Pain, which earned him a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award. His earlier work as a child actor in films like Father of the Bride (1991) and Home Alone (1990), where he starred alongside his brother Macaulay Culkin, has also left a lasting impression. His quick wit and charm make him an ideal fit for the role of the dystopian TV host in Sunrise on the Reaping.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is slated for release on November 20, 2026. The film will bring Suzanne Collins' novel of the same name to the big screen, featuring a stellar cast that includes Ralph Fiennes (Conclave, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) as President Coriolanus Snow, Elle Fanning (Super 8) as Effie Trinket, Jesse Plemons (Civil War, Breaking Bad) as Plutarch Heavensbee, and Joseph Zada (Total Control) as Haymitch Abernathy, among others.