Honestly, I've wondered the same thing! I mean, we've seen movies use CGI to recreate actors who aren't around anymore, like they did with Carrie Fisher in Star Wars. But for this new Hunger Games movie, they decided to cast ralph fiennes as President Snow instead of trying some AI magic with Donald Sutherland's face.

From what I get, it's probably because this movie happens decades before the originals — it's set 24 years before the first film. So, President Snow is supposed to be way younger. It'd be super weird to see an AI younger Sutherland walking around when we all know what the younger version looks like from the old movies. Plus, ralph fiennes has serious villain energy from when he played Voldemort in Harry Potter so I can totally see why they wanted him for this part. He brings something new and fresh, instead of just trying to copy what Sutherland already did.

Personally, I think it's cool when movies try new actors for different takes on a character. I bet ralph fiennes will make President Snow even more cold and creepy than before! Can't wait to see how he does it.