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Get ready, Hunger Games fans! The ever-charming Kieran Culkin is stepping into the flamboyant shoes of Caesar Flickerman for the upcoming prequel, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.” He’ll be taking on the role made iconic by Stanley Tucci in the original movies.
Lionsgate is thrilled with the casting, praising Culkin’s captivating presence and undeniable charm as the perfect fit for the host of Panem’s chilling spectacle. They acknowledge Tucci’s unforgettable portrayal, while expressing confidence that Culkin will make the role his own.
Culkin, fresh off an Oscar win for “A Real Pain” and an Emmy for his role in “Succession,” is certainly having a moment. He’s currently treading the boards on Broadway in a revival of “Glengarry Glen Ross.”
“The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” lands in theaters November 20, 2026. This prequel is set decades before the Katniss Everdeen saga, delving into the 50th Hunger Games – also known as the Second Quarter Quell – and focusing on a young Haymitch Abernathy’s fight for survival.
The film boasts a star-studded cast including Joseph Zada as Haymitch, along with Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Whitney Peak, Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Elle Fanning, Molly McCann, Iona Bell, and Ralph Fiennes as the menacing President Snow.
Fans are buzzing with excitement over the casting choices, particularly the resemblance between the new actors and the original stars. Social media is alight with positive reactions, suggesting that the casting directors have hit the mark.