Elle Fanning Confirms She is Done Filming ‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’
While Elle Fanning has expressed that Predator: Badlands is her first major franchise — which she’s already proven she can more than hold her own in — fans are just as excited to see her next big leap: stepping into The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. And while not too much has been revealed about her role just yet, Elle did tease a little bit about her experience on set — and the moment she was “blessed” by Effie Trinket herself.
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“I mean, my part’s done. I’m done filming,” Elle told us during our Predator: Badlands interview. “When I got the part, Elizabeth [Banks] reached out. She sent me beautiful flowers and said, ‘May the odds ever be in your favor.’ So, she kind of blessed me with that. There’s a lot of pressure, but I do love Effie — she’s always been my favorite.”
It’s a total full-circle moment. Fanning, who grew up watching the original Hunger Games films, now finds herself stepping into the Capitol spotlight — with a nod of approval from the woman who made Effie Trinket unforgettable.
What We Know About Sunrise on the Reaping
The upcoming prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, is set to release November 20, 2026, and takes fans back two decades before the events of the original trilogy. The story centers around the 50th Hunger Games — better known as the Second Quarter Quell — which first introduced fans to a young Haymitch Abernathy.
Elle’s casting reportedly ties into the Capitol’s perspective, offering a new angle on the early Games and the extravagant world that would one day shape Effie’s colorful personality.
The film is directed by Francis Lawrence, who helmed Catching Fire and Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2, and is once again based on Suzanne Collins’ newest novel.
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A Stacked Cast
The ensemble lineup is nothing short of impressive. Joining Fanning are Kieran Culkin as a young Caesar Flickerman, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, and Maya Hawke in a mysterious Capitol role. Collins’ world has always thrived on ensemble performances — and this film is shaping up to continue that legacy.
Elle’s addition sparked a wave of excitement online, especially after fans began campaigning for her to join the Hunger Games universe months before her casting was confirmed. In fact, Elle admitted that the online buzz helped push the conversation forward.
Meanwhile catch Elle in her dual roles as Tessa and Thia in Predator: Badlands this weekend.
