Elle Fanning May Star as Young Effie Trinket in New Hunger Games Film

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Actress Elle Fanning is reportedly in talks to portray a younger version of Effie Trinket in the upcoming prequel film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, according to a source from TheWrap. The role of Effie was famously brought to life by Elizabeth Banks in the original series.

The new film is set to explore Effie’s character 24 years before the events of the first The Hunger Games movie, depicting her early years as a stylist helping her sister, Proserpina. Unlike in the previous films where Effie served as the escort for District 12, this story reveals her complexities as a character who supports the Hunger Games while also showing genuine care for the tributes.

The adaptation is directed by Francis Lawrence, who has helmed the previous installments of the franchise since Catching Fire. He is also directing the prequel adaptation The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, set to release in 2024.

Fanning has received acclaim for her roles in various projects, including her recent performance alongside Timothée Chalamet in the Oscar-nominated film A Complete Unknown.

Sunrise on the Reaping is positioned to release in theaters on November 20, 2026. It aims to focus on the backstory of Haymitch Abernathy, a character played by Woody Harrelson in earlier entries, portraying his victory in the 50th Hunger Games.

The screenplay for this much-anticipated prequel is penned by Michael Arndt, who notably worked on the original The Hunger Games film in 2012 and earned an Academy Award nomination for the script of Captain Phillips.

As the franchise continues to expand, anticipations surrounding casting choices and character development grow, particularly as the production gears up with filming expected to commence in Germany in July 2025.