Sam Claflin, best known for playing Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games movies, says he still feels a strong emotional connection to the franchise. In a chat with Variety at Canneseries, he said, “I am a huge fan of the world Suzanne Collins created, and I can’t help but feel attached to it.”
He also talked about how much he enjoyed the 2023 prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. He called it a “fresh take with a fresh generation” and praised the filmmakers for doing a great job. Now, Claflin is excited for the next prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping. He mentioned hearing that the book it’s based on is even better.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is currently being made and is expected to come out in November 2026. The story takes place 24 years before the original movies and will focus on the younger life of Haymitch Abernathy.
The film will star Joseph Zada as Haymitch and Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird. Jesse Plemmons and Mckenna Grace will also be part of the cast. Francis Lawrence, who directed every Hunger Games movie since Catching Fire, will return as the director. The screenplay is by Billy Ray, and Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson are producing through Color Force. Cameron MacConomy is the executive producer.
Claflin recently caught up with Francis Lawrence in Los Angeles and said it was exciting to hear about the production, which is happening in Berlin.
One reason Claflin stays connected to the Hunger Games world is his nine-year-old son. His son is now old enough to understand the franchise and almost ready to watch the movies, which makes the experience even more special for Claflin. He also mentioned that friends’ kids often ask him questions about the films, and he enjoys connecting with the younger generation, especially now that he’s a dad.
Besides The Hunger Games, Claflin is currently promoting The Count of Monte Cristo, an epic series directed by Bille August. He plays Edmond Dantes, a man who is wrongly imprisoned and seeks revenge after escaping. Claflin said filming was very challenging because they shot the scenes in reverse order.
He also shared that he’s always drawn to romantic roles, even though he jokes that he’s “useless at it.” He loves the feeling of falling in love and thinks it’s important to be passionate about the projects he picks.
Looking back on his time with The Hunger Games, Claflin said it’s hard to believe that over ten years have passed since they filmed the last movie. He called the series a big part of his life’s journey.
