Ralph Fiennes and Elle Fanning Meet in London as The Hunger Games Prequel Nears Its November Release

Ralph Fiennes and Elle Fanning met for the first time at the U.K. launch of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, held at London's Westfield shopping centre. Fanning told The Hollywood Reporter that the two actors share no scenes, and she said she wished they did.

The film is the sixth in The Hunger Games series and is based on Suzanne Collins' book of the same name. Lionsgate is the studio behind it. It follows the second Quarter Quell, a special edition of the Games with its own twist, in which Haymitch is sent into the arena with twice as many children. The U.S. release date is November 20, 2026, according to Deadline.

The prequel recasts several familiar characters with new actors. Joseph Zada plays Haymitch, the role Woody Harrelson played in earlier films. Fanning plays Effie Trinket, the younger version of a character Elizabeth Banks originated. Kieran Culkin plays Caesar Flickerman, a part Stanley Tucci played in the original films. Fiennes plays President Snow.

Fanning said fans first put her forward for Effie in online fancasting, and she hopes they feel they made the right choice. She also said she texted with Banks about making the role her own. Banks, who was not named as attending the launch, has been part of the conversation around the character since the start.

Culkin took a different route to Caesar. He told THR that he had told fans to lower their expectations after he signed on, because he had no clear idea what to do with the character. He later found an approach that, in his words, connects to Tucci's version. He also said he has not spoken to Tucci about the role.

Other cast members include McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee and Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove. A first-look video released in April showed Fanning, Culkin and Plemons in their roles, which gave audiences their first glimpse of the new versions of these characters, according to THR.

Fans hoping for a surprise appearance at the launch did not get one. Jennifer Lawrence, who is not part of the prequel's cast list, did not make a surprise appearance there.

Fanning's comments and the London event are the first public moments for the cast together ahead of the November release. With the U.S. date now set for November 20, the film's promotion is moving into its final weeks.