Jesse Plemons cast as Plutarch Heavensbee in Hunger Games prequel

Jesse Plemons has been cast as a young Plutarch Heavensbee in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, taking on the role originally portrayed by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Plemons' casting is notable given his previous collaboration with Hoffman, in which he played Hoffman's son in the film The Master. The prequel, set during the 50th Hunger Games—also known as the Second Quarter Quell—will focus on a younger Haymitch Abernathy and feature Plemons' character as a Capitol cameraman with budding rebellious inclinations. Producers and Lionsgate executives expressed excitement about Plemons' selective approach to roles and his unique ability to honor and reinterpret the character for a new audience. The film will be directed by franchise veteran Francis Lawrence, with production slated to begin later this year and a planned release in November 2026. The casting choice has been widely praised as both a tribute to Hoffman's legacy and a fresh take for the franchise.