Last year, fans of The Hunger Games got some exciting news: a new book and movie were on the way. Soon after, Suzanne Collins released the novel, and it sold over a million copies in its first week in the U.S. That is three times more than her final original trilogy book, Mockingjay, sold in the same time. This new story, Sunrise On The Reaping, follows Peeta and Katniss’ mentor, Haymitch Abernathy. We see him when he is chosen to compete in the 50th Hunger Games, a special anniversary where double the tributes are sent into the arena. The novel tells the story of Haymitch’s life in District 12 and his fight against the Capitol. This leads him to become the grumpy mentor we know from the first series.
This is the second prequel Collins has written. The first, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, followed a young Coriolanus Snow as he became the harsh president from the original trilogy. The movie version of Songbirds and Snakes made $349 million worldwide. Collins and Lionsgate probably want to repeat that success with a Sunrise on the Reaping film. The most successful movie in the series was The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, earning almost $845 million worldwide. The franchise has not seen those numbers since. But the Sunrise on the Reaping movie will follow a character the audience already likes, Haymitch. This might encourage more casual fans to go see it. The announcement of Sunrise on the Reaping’s release really excited the fans. Many people started guessing about casting and production for the movie version, which is set to come out in November 2026.
The movie is starting production in July. Reports say it has a budget of over $150 million. This could make it the largest budget Hunger Games movie to date. Fans have been waiting for news about this highly anticipated film. They will not have to wait much longer to get it. Here is a look at some of the casting choices so far and what everyone expects from the upcoming movie.
Meet The Talented Actors Stepping Into Familiar Roles For The New Hunger Games MovieFrom A Newcomer As Haymitch To Big Names Taking On Fan-Favorite Characters
After the book came out, many fans suggested popular actors like Rudy Pankow from Outer Banks and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl for the lead role of Haymitch. Instead, the main part went to a new face, Joseph Zada. He is an Australian actor who started his career in 2019 in a film directed by his father. Before this role, he had only been in four other projects. Sunrise on the Reaping will be Zada’s first Hollywood blockbuster. In the story, Haymitch goes through terrible losses and faces brutal conditions in the arena. I am interested to see how Zada brings the emotional side of his journey to life. He is also set to appear in another book adaptation, We Were Liars, which comes out in June. It is also good to see that Zada, at 20, is actually the right age to play a 16-year-old. This is different from what fans guessed and from previous Movies where actors over 25 played teenagers.
Maysilee is a strong but kind character. This is a role Mckenna Grace knows well. Grace is one of the more well-known actors joining the cast. She has been in movies like Gifted with Chris Evans and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Many fans on social media liked this choice too. Grace will need to show the many layers of Maysilee’s story. At first, the character seems like a snobby rich girl. But as the story goes on, Haymitch realizes there is more to her, and the two become good friends. Grace’s performance will depend on her ability to show Maysilee’s growth in a way that makes audiences feel for her all the way to the end. Grace already has millions of followers on social media. Her popularity with a younger audience likely appealed to the Lionsgate marketing team. She is also only 18 years old, another case where filmmakers are avoiding casting older actors as teens.
Plutarch is a character we saw a lot in the first movies. He had an important role in Mockingjay, helping Katniss bring down President Snow. Philip Seymour Hoffman played him in the earlier films. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see Plutarch as he rises to power. We also learn how he earned the president’s trust while secretly helping the rebellion. Jesse Plemons was chosen to play a younger Plutarch. It will be hard to match Hoffman’s charm and skill, but Plemons seems ready for the task. In fact, Plemons and Hoffman even worked together before. Plemons played Hoffman’s son in the 2012 movie The Master. Plemons has been acting for a while. He was in the popular TV series Breaking Bad. He also got an Oscar nomination for his role in The Power of the Dog.
Whitney Peak was cast as Lenore Dove, Haymitch’s musical and free-spirited girlfriend. She is part of the traveling musical group in District 12 called the "Covey." Peak is a newer actress, known for teen dramas like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix and the Gossip Girl reboot on Max. We will see if Peak can capture the same wild and whimsical spirit that Rachel Zegler showed when she played a similar role as Lucy Gray Baird in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Zegler won over many fans. This helped her get roles in other movies. Zegler has already shown her support for Peak’s casting on social media, writing "I know she’s gonna do the Baird name proud."
Beetee is a major character in the second Hunger Games novel, Catching Fire. He uses his smarts to help stop the Games. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we learn about his family and his past involvement in the rebellion. This makes his actions in the first movies even more meaningful. Young Beetee will be played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. He has been in other big movies like Elvis and The Trial of Chicago 7. He has been acting since 2013. Jeffrey Wright played the character in the first movies. He did a good job showing Beetee as shy and nerdy while still being smart enough to take down the Capitol. Harrison will guide young Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping. He will help him in his fight against the Capitol, showing that being smart can be dangerous.
Wiress is one of Haymitch’s guides in the novel. She won the Hunger Games the year before by outsmarting others. Wiress will be played by Maya Hawke. She is known for being the daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. She also had a role in the popular TV series Stranger Things. Many fans were happy with this choice. Like Beetee, Wiress’s character is introduced in Catching Fire as the smart but troubled tribute. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we learn she used to talk normally before the Capitol hurt her for her part in the rebellion. Amanda Plummer played her in the original movies. She showed Wiress’s unusual behavior well. Hawke will play a more sane version of Wiress. She will need to show the young, capable winner who encourages the District 12 kids to use their intelligence to succeed without killing.
The kind mentor Mags will be played by Lili Taylor. She has been in many movies, including Mystic Pizza and The Conjuring. Mags was also in Catching Fire as Finnick’s mentor and a caring figure. We see more of her in Sunrise on the Reaping as she helps Haymitch and the District 12 tributes get ready. She shows us what she was like before the Capitol changed her. Lynn Cohen played Mags in the Catching Fire movie. She was quiet and weak after years of Capitol torture. The Mags in this movie will be different. She will be more energetic and active, but still just as caring. We will see her looking after the tributes and making them feel like people, even as they face almost certain death.
Wyatt Callow is one of the District 12 tributes. He is very good at math. Wyatt is known for taking bets on the Hunger Games and figuring out the odds for his father. Haymitch does not like this at first. The two characters start off on the wrong foot. But Haymitch later realizes Wyatt is a good person because he is so loyal to their group. Ben Wang will play Wyatt in the movie. Wang is also set to be in Karate Kid: Legend. He has appeared in the Mean Girls remake and the Disney+ series American Born Chinese. Wyatt is socially awkward but kind. Wang will need to show how deep his character is beyond just his intelligence.
The Hunger Games series is expanding with a new movie, Sunrise on the Reaping, following Haymitch's early life. We look at its exciting cast and what's coming next.
The Return of Ruthless Leaders and Familiar Faces in The Hunger Games Universe
From President Snow's Early Days To Effie Trinket's First Encounters With District 12
The harsh President Snow will be played by Ralph Fiennes. This British actor has been nominated for many Academy Awards for his roles in movies like Schindler’s List and The English Patient. His career also includes popular movies like Skyfall and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fiennes is one of the most experienced actors in the cast. The younger actors can certainly look up to him. Of course, Fiennes is no stranger to playing cruel leaders. His role as Voldemort in the Harry Potter series is unforgettable. Fiennes will play the heartless president of Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping. He will confront Haymitch, the rebellion, and the 50th Hunger Games. I have no doubt that Fiennes will show Snow as just as scary and cold-hearted as fans have imagined him to be.
The most recent casting news has been Elle Fanning as the Capitol mentor Effie Trinket. Many fans actually suggested Fanning for the role. It seems the Hunger Games producers listened to those requests. Fanning is the sister of Dakota Fanning. She has been in popular films like Maleficent and the TV series The Great. Effie is a consistent character throughout the first movies. Elizabeth Banks played her on screen. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see how she got her job in District 12 and her first meeting with Haymitch. Effie feels bad for the district kids, but the Capitol’s ideas stop her from truly understanding their struggles. She thinks it is sad they have to go into the Hunger Games. She believes it is necessary to keep the peace. Fanning will need to play this innocent and fancy character who has a very unaware view of the real world.
Caesar Flickerman is the charming performer we see in the first movies interviewing the tributes. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see a younger Caesar conducting interviews before the 50th Hunger Games. We also get some insight into how he can control and sell a certain story to the Capitol audience. Stanley Tucci played the character before. He really made the showy media personality come alive. Kieran Culkin has now been cast for the prequel. He will get the chance to take on the same wild hair, makeup, and outfits that Tucci made famous. Culkin is an experienced actor. He will almost certainly be ready for the challenge. He recently won an Oscar for A Real Pain. Before that, he won an Emmy for his role as Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession. Of course, for many movie viewers, he will always be Fuller from Home Alone.
Louella and Lou Lou are two characters who look very similar. They will each play very different parts. Molly McCann will play Louella. She will need to show the sweet, innocent girl Haymitch promises to protect when she is chosen for the Hunger Games at just 13. McCann is a young Irish actress who has been in 19 projects. She was nominated for an Irish Film and TV award in 2021. Iona Bell is cast as Lou Lou. She is an unknown girl from District 11 who was hurt by the Capitol. This has driven her almost insane. Bell is a British actress who has only been in one project before this casting. Her character in Sunrise on the Reaping is an unusual one, but you cannot help but feel for her because of what she has gone through.