Ben Wang is stepping into the arena as Wyatt Callow in the upcoming prequel film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and the 25-year-old actor says he’s “really excited” to dive into the duality of the character.
In a recent interview, the Karate Kid: Legends star gave fans a taste of what to expect from his role in the 2026 fantasy blockbuster, based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel. Wang teased that Wyatt isn’t exactly what people think. “He’s seen by his community as one thing, but he’s another thing underneath, and he’s a contradiction,” Wang said. “He’s a logician, but he’s got a really big heart.”
Wyatt Callow, a District 12 Tribute, is described in the book as a compulsive oddsmaker. He’s brilliant at math and hyper-observant, making him a strategic powerhouse in the arena. But what makes him stand out is his unexpected emotional depth. “He’s supposed to be cold and calculating,” Wang continued, “but he’s actually the person who does the most illogical and selfless thing.”
The film is set 24 years before the original Hunger Games story and will follow events leading up to and during the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell. This installment brings back familiar faces, at least in character form, including Haymitch Abernathy, now played by Joseph Zada, previously portrayed by Woody Harrelson.
Whitney Peak takes on the role of Lenore Dove Baird, Wyatt’s girlfriend, while Maya Hawke will play Wiress, a former champion turned mentor in District 12. Mckenna Grace joins as Maysilee Donner, another District 12 Tribute whose fate ties closely with Haymitch’s past.
Other big names round out the cast: Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, and Kieran Culkin as a younger Caesar Flickerman. But one of the most talked-about casting choices is Ralph Fiennes stepping in as President Coriolanus Snow, a role previously portrayed by the late Donald Sutherland and more recently by Tom Blyth in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
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Producer Nina Jacobson said casting Fiennes was a way to pay tribute to Sutherland’s legacy while bringing something fresh. “We wanted to honour Donald Sutherland by having one of this generation’s greatest actors play President Snow,” she said. “Working with Ralph has been on my bucket list since he traumatised me for life in Schindler’s List.”
Directed by longtime Hunger Games filmmaker Francis Lawrence, Sunrise on the Reaping promises to deliver a mix of brutal strategy, moral complexity, and fresh character dynamics. With Ben Wang at the center as Wyatt Callow, fans can expect a tribute who breaks the mold, someone who thinks with his head, but acts with his heart.
The film is slated for release in November 2026.
- Ben Wang Talks Playing Wyatt Callow in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ - May 30, 2025
- Kieran Culkin Cast as Caesar Flickerman in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ - May 29, 2025
- Kevin Spacey Returns with Supernatural Action Film ‘Holiguards’ After 20-Year Directing Hiatus - May 29, 2025
