Glenn Close and Billy Porter have officially joined the extensive cast of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”
Close is set to portray Drusilla Sickle, the ruthless escort for the District 12 Tributes, while Porter will take on the role of Magno Stift, her estranged husband and a designer for the Tributes. They will join an already extraordinary lineup that includes Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Height, Mckenna Grace, jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning, and Kieran Culkin.
This film is inspired by Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name and transports viewers back to Panem nearly twenty-five years before the events depicted in the original “Hunger Games” series.The story kicks off on reaping day for the Fiftieth Hunger Games—known as the Second Quarter Quell—where Haymitch Abernathy finds himself thrust into a perilous arena. In 2012’s “The Hunger Games,” Haymitch serves as a mentor to Katniss everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (portrayed by Josh Hutcherson).
star power in Action
Close is an eight-time Academy Award nominee recognized for her performances in films like “Fatal Attraction,” “Hazardous Liaisons,” and “The Wife.” She will next appear in Rian Johnson’s upcoming sequel to “Knives Out,” titled “Wake Up Dead Man.” Simultaneously occurring, Porter—a Tony Award winner known for his work in “Kinky Boots” and an Emmy recipient for his role in “Pose”—recently made his West End debut as the Emcee in “Cabaret” and is set to star in Gurinder Chadha’s forthcoming film “Christmas Karma.”
Nina Jacobson,one of the producers behind this project expressed her excitement about casting close: “Glenn Close embodies Drusilla perfectly.Her depth of intellect and creativity brings characters to life that are both unforgettable and iconic.” She also praised Porter: “Billy possesses a rare talent that allows him to shine brightly or evoke deep emotions on stage or screen. He left a lasting impression during our collaboration on ‘Pose,’ both through his artistry and humanity.”
The release date for “the Hunger games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is scheduled for November 20th, 2026.