Why Philip Seymour Hoffman's son Cooper Hoffman wasn't cast in his 'Sunrise on the Reaping' role

"To see, and feel, the similarities they both have, it made me emotional," director Francis Lawrence said

Director Francis Lawrence has revealed why Cooper Hoffman was not cast as a young Plutarch Heavensbee in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, despite the role originally being played by his late father, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence said the decision came down to age rather than sentiment. Although he had recently worked with the 23-year-old actor on The Long Walk and would "love to work with him again", the filmmaker explained that the younger Plutarch needed to feel "considerably older" than Cooper. The role ultimately went to 38-year-old Jesse Plemons.

Lawrence admitted that meeting Cooper for the first time was an emotional experience because of his striking resemblance to his father. "To see, and feel, the similarities they both have, it made me emotional," he said, adding that working with Cooper often reminded him of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who portrayed Plutarch in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and the two Mockingjay films before his death in 2014.

Plemons' casting also carries a personal connection to Hoffman. The pair previously starred together in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, where Plemons played Hoffman's son. Lawrence and Lionsgate felt that history, combined with Plemons' maturity and acting pedigree, made him the right choice for the prequel.

While Cooper Hoffman will not appear in Sunrise on the Reaping, his career continues to gain momentum following acclaimed performances in Licorice Pizza and The Long Walk. Meanwhile, The Hunger Games prequel, based on Suzanne Collins' bestselling novel, is set to arrive in cinemas on November 20, 2026.