Joseph Zada to Lead ‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’

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(Left) Joseph Zada to star as Haymitch Abernathy in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo credit: Hugh Stewart. (Right) Whitney Peak to star as Lenore Dove Bard in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo: Kate Whyte.

Preview:

Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak are playing Haymitch and Lenore in the new ‘Hunger Games’ prequel.
Francis Lawrence will direct the movie.
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ will be out in November next year.

The casting news for the latest ‘Hunger Games’ prequel –– once more based on a book by Suzanne Collins, this time subtitled ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ –– has been ramping up.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Not Yet RatedNov 20th, 2026

Return to the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games for the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. Read the Plot

We recently learned that Elle Fanning has been linked with the role of a younger Effie Trinket; the effusive stylist as portrayed by Elizabeth Banks in the original ‘Hunger Games’ movies. But that has yet to be confirmed.

We do know, however, who has won the lead roles: Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak will play Haymitch Abernathy and Lenore Dove Baird.

Here’s Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman on the casting:

“ ‘The Hunger Games’ franchise has long been a launching pad for remarkable young actors, and Jo and Whitney carry that legacy forward with incredible heart, depth, and fire. After auditioning hundreds of gifted performers from around the world, these two stood out — not just for their talent, but for the emotional truth they brought to these iconic roles. Haymitch has always been a fan favorite, and his origin story is one of the most anticipated in the franchise. His relationship with Lenore Dove is deeply woven into the emotional history of Panem. We can’t wait for fans to experience the story that shaped one of the most compelling characters in the series.”

Mckenna Grace is set join the cast of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ as Maysilee Donner. Photo credit: Gus Black.

In addition to the two leads, we also now know that McKenna Grace, who has appeared in the recent ‘Ghostbusters’ movies, will be in the movie as Maysilee Donner, Haymitch’s fellow District 12 Tribute.

What’s the story of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?

‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026. Photo: Lionsgate.

While the previous prequel took place 64 years before the events of the original trilogy, ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is set 24 years before that trio of Jennifer Lawrence films in the world of Panem, commencing on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

Those games are an important event in the canon as the victor was Haymitch Abernathy, the only winner from District 12 before Lawrence’ Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta Mellark’s tie win. Haymitch continues on to become a mentor, a character in the original movies played by Woody Harrelson.

While Lenore is only briefly mentioned in the book ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay,’ she’s a full character in ‘Sunrise on the Reaping.’

Who else has been rumored for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?

Kieran Culkin accepts the award for Male Supporting Actor – Motion Picture at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Zada’s casting puts paid to the rumors that Charlie Plummer, who appears in Lawrence’s Stephen King adaptation ‘The Long Walk,’ due in theaters on September 12th, would take Haymitch role.

That might end up throwing doubt on the idea that Ralph Fiennes will also end up in the movie, to play Coriolanus Snow, as brought to screens by Donald Sutherland in the original films and Tom Blyth in previous prequel effort ‘Songbirds and Snakes.’

And then there was word that Kieran Culkin is mulling an offer to play Caesar Flickerman (the eccentric host character played in the first film series by Stanley Tucci.) We’ll wait and see if there is an official announcement about any of them.

Where else have we seen Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak?

(L-R): Belissa Escobedo as Izzy, Whitney Peak as Becca, and Lilia Buckingham as Cassie in Disney’s live-action ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Zada will next be seen starring in the highly anticipated Prime Video series ‘We Were Liars,’ which premieres this June.

He also just completed work on Netflix‘s ‘East of Eden,’ a seven-episode limited series based on the 1952 John Steinbeck novel, written and produced by Zoe Kazan.

As for Peak, she has the lead in Sony Pictures’ upcoming shark thriller ‘Shiver’ opposite Phoebe Dynevor, and a role opposite Liam Neeson and Teresa Palmer in ‘4 Kids Walk into a Bank.’

Previously, she was seen in the ‘Gossip Girl’ reboot co-starred in ‘Hocus Pocus 2.’

‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’: Collins and the filmmakers talk

Director Francis Lawrence in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.

Here’s Suzanne Collins’ statement on the new book and movie:

“With ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’, I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few… The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day. From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026.”

And here’s Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson:

“Suzanne Collins is a master storyteller and our creative north star. We couldn’t be more fortunate than to be guided and trusted by a collaborator whose talent and imagination are so consistently brilliant. We know ‘Hunger Games’ fans worldwide will be spellbound by where Suzanne has focused this next extraordinary story. The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later. Like fans around the globe, we are eagerly anticipating this exciting return to Panem.”