Hollywood is abuzz with the news that the formidable Glenn Close is officially joining the highly anticipated prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The eight-time Oscar nominee will take on the pivotal role of Drusilla Sickle, the stern and often cruel escort for District 12’s Tributes.
The announcement, confirmed by Lionsgate during their CineEurope presentation, has sent ripples of excitement through the Hunger Games fanbase. Close, renowned for her commanding performances in films like Fatal Attraction and Dangerous Liaisons, is a powerful addition to an already star-studded cast.
Drusilla Sickle is a new character introduced in Suzanne Collins’ latest novel, Sunrise on the Reaping, which hit bookshelves in March 2025. The film is set 24 years before the events of the original Hunger Games trilogy, focusing on the harrowing 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell – the very Games that saw a young Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada in the prequel) emerge victorious.
Close’s portrayal of Drusilla Sickle is expected to bring a chilling new dimension to the Capitol’s oppressive regime. Unlike the somewhat eccentric yet eventually sympathetic Effie Trinket of the original series, Drusilla is described as ruthless and uninspired, a stark embodiment of the Capitol’s callous disregard for human life.
Joining Close in this prequel is Broadway sensation Billy Porter, who will portray Magno Stift, Drusilla’s estranged husband and the Tributes’ similarly detached stylist. The ensemble cast also boasts an impressive lineup including Elle Fanning as a younger Effie Trinket, Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, and Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, among others.
Producer Nina Jacobson expressed her immense enthusiasm for Close’s casting, calling her “a dream Drusilla” and emphasizing her ability to imbue characters with unforgettable depth. “She brings so much of her intellect and imagination to each role, creating characters who are unforgettable and iconic,” Jacobson stated.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, directed by Francis Lawrence and with a screenplay by Billy Ray, is slated for release on November 20, 2026. With filming set to begin in July, fans are eagerly anticipating how this powerhouse cast will bring Suzanne Collins’ latest dystopian tale to life on the big screen. The addition of Glenn Close promises a performance that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on the Panem saga.
