Glenn Close Joins the Hunger Games: Who Is Drusilla Sickle in Sunrise on the Reaping?

The Hunger Games universe continues to expand with its latest installment, Sunrise on the Reaping, and fans got their first shocking glimpse of Oscar-nominated actress Glenn Close in a jaw-dropping transformation as Drusilla Sickle. Released on November 20, 2025, the trailer revealed Close sporting an orange bob wig with severe bangs, arched eyebrows, facial prosthetics, bright white teeth, and vivid red lipstick—leaving the actress virtually unrecognizable. Set to hit theaters on November 20, 2026, Sunrise on the Reaping serves as a prequel to the original Hunger Games trilogy and takes place 24 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute. Based on Suzanne Collins's novel of the same name (published March 18, 2025), the film explores the harrowing backstory of Haymitch Abernathy and the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

Who Is Drusilla Sickle?

Drusilla Sickle is a Capitol escort responsible for conducting the reaping ceremonies in District 12. In Collins's novel, she's portrayed as a mean-spirited, snobby official who has been serving District 12 since the 25th Hunger Games. Her role becomes particularly significant during the 50th Hunger Games, when the Second Quarter Quell rules mandate that each district must send twice the usual number of tributes—four instead of two—as a reminder that two rebels died for every Capitol citizen during the rebellion. In the story, Drusilla arrives in District 12 to select two boys and two girls for the deadly games. When one of the selected boys is killed by Peacekeepers while attempting to flee, she chooses a young Haymitch Abernathy as his replacement. This moment sets in motion the events that would ultimately shape Haymitch into the cynical mentor Katniss and Peeta would come to know decades later. Despite her cruel demeanor, Drusilla's character has layers. She once beat tribute Maysilee Donner during an argument, showcasing her volatility, yet she also provides Haymitch with valuable interview tips that help him secure crucial sponsors. In the books, she's described as having a plastic face with her skin held taut, sporting a military yet sassy fashion sense that includes lemon-yellow outfits and even a prop raven on her head. Drusilla has been married to District 12's stylist, Magno Stift, for over thirty years and continues serving as the district's escort until she eventually breaks her hip on an escalator and is replaced by the more familiar Effie Trinket.

Glenn Close's Transformation

Known for her chameleon-like ability to disappear into roles, Glenn Close's portrayal of Drusilla Sickle represents yet another stunning transformation in her five-decade career. The actress, who has received numerous accolades throughout her career for performances in films like Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, and Cruella, embraced the character's theatrical Capitol aesthetic with gusto. Close described working on the film as an "amazing collaboration" and "really fun," noting the massive scale of the production: "There's all these extras and helicopters and chariots and horses." She emphasized her commitment to never repeating herself in roles, stating, "If I have any rule that I've tried to hold myself to [it's] never to repeat myself. Just for my own sake. I think I'd get bored." In the trailer, Close delivers Drusilla's chilling line with Capitol flourish: "Twice the tributes. Twice the glory." The phrase encapsulates the cruel pageantry that defines the Quarter Quell and the Capitol's twisted celebration of the reaping.

The Story of Sunrise on the Reaping

Sunrise on the Reaping begins on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games reaping, which also happens to be Haymitch Abernathy's 16th birthday. The Second Quarter Quell's brutal twist requires each district to send four tributes instead of the usual two, doubling the bloodshed and terror. After being chosen as a replacement tribute, Haymitch travels to the Capitol where he encounters President Coriolanus Snow—the same tyrant featured in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes—and a young cameraman named Plutarch Heavensbee, who would later become instrumental in the rebellion. During the games, Haymitch forms an alliance called the Newcomers to counter the Career tributes and eventually partners with Maysilee Donner, the aunt of Katniss's friend Madge. Haymitch's ingenuity and survival instincts lead him to discover the arena's forcefield, which he uses to rebound an opponent's weapon and secure his victory. However, his defiance comes at a devastating cost. President Snow, angered by Haymitch's clever manipulation of the arena, orders the deaths of Haymitch's family and his girlfriend, Lenore Dove. This tragedy transforms Haymitch from a clever, resourceful teenager into the broken, alcoholic mentor who would eventually guide Katniss and Peeta. The book sold over 1.2 million copies in its first week in the United States and has been praised for its exploration of propaganda, the power of narrative control, and philosopher David Hume's ideas about implicit submission and how the few govern the many.

Star-Studded Cast

Sunrise on the Reaping boasts an impressive ensemble cast alongside Glenn Close. Joseph Zada takes on the pivotal role of young Haymitch Abernathy, while the supporting cast includes Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. The film continues the franchise's tradition of attracting top-tier talent to bring Collins's dystopian world to life.

What Makes Drusilla Sickle Important?

While Drusilla Sickle may not be the main protagonist, her role as the Capitol escort makes her a crucial figure in the machinery of oppression that defines Panem. She represents the bureaucratic banality of evil—an individual who facilitates unimaginable cruelty while maintaining a veneer of civility and showmanship. Her character serves as a predecessor to Effie Trinket, showing that the Capitol's practice of sending flamboyant, tone-deaf officials to the districts has been standard procedure for decades. However, unlike Effie's eventual character growth and redemption in the original trilogy, Drusilla remains firmly entrenched in the Capitol's worldview, never questioning the system she serves. Glenn Close's casting brings gravitas and depth to a character who could easily have been one-dimensional. Her ability to balance the character's theatrical Capitol persona with underlying menace promises to make Drusilla Sickle a memorable addition to the Hunger Games universe.

Looking Ahead

As The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping prepares for its November 2026 release, Glenn Close's transformation into Drusilla Sickle offers a tantalizing preview of the film's commitment to bringing Suzanne Collins's vision to life. For fans who have followed Haymitch's journey from his cryptic mentions in the original trilogy to his full backstory in the prequel novel, seeing his origin story unfold on the big screen—with Drusilla Sickle ushering him toward his fate—promises to be an emotionally powerful and visually stunning experience. The film will explore how a clever, resourceful teenager became the cynical mentor Katniss and Peeta relied on, and Drusilla Sickle's role in that transformation—however small—is part of the larger tapestry of trauma and survival that defines the Hunger Games saga.