‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Cast Revealed: Meet Young Haymitch, Lenore and Maysilee!
You might’ve seen one star in HBO’s recent ‘Gossip Girl’ reboot!
We have great news for fans awaiting the big-screen return to Panem! The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping—which hits theaters November 20, 2026—has revealed its leads for the highly anticipated adaptation. Based on Suzanne Collins’ latest installment in her hit YA dystopian series, the prequel tells the story of beloved character Haymitch Abernathy, who was previously portrayed as Woody Harrelson on screen. Keep scrolling to find out which actors are set to play Haymitch, Haymitch’s girlfriend Lenore Dove Baird and more! Plus, find out what the movie studio has to say about the casting process and the difficult decision after “auditioning hundreds of gifted performers.”
What is ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ About?
The book begins at the start of the 50th Hunger Games—24 years before the events from 2008’s The Hunger Games—also known as the Second Quarter Quell. Hailing from District 12, a sixteen-year-old Haymitch Abernathy is thrust into the Quarter Quell, where twice as many tributes are chosen at the Reaping. Separated from loved ones, Haymitch faces impossible odds, but discovers a determination that motivates him to fight for something greater than survival.
Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy
Meet young Haymitch! Joseph Zada, 19, is an up-and-coming actor who is part of a slew of upcoming book-to-film adaptations. In June, Zada will appear in the Amazon Prime series We Were Liars, based on the bestselling book by E. Lockhart. He will also appear in Netflix’s upcoming East of Eden, in which he stars alongside Mike Faist, Florence Pugh, Chris Abbott and more. If you’re looking to see Zada in something right now, he’s currently starring as Charlie in the Stan Australia Original Series Invisible Boys based on the bestselling novel by Holden Sheppard.
Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird
Haymitch’s girlfriend will be played by Whitney Peak, 22, who recently starred in Max’s buzzy reboot of Gossip Girl as Zoya Lott. You may have also seen Peak in Hocus Pocus 2 where she starred alongside Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker. She will also be seen in the upcoming thriller Shiver opposite Phoebe Dynevor and Liam Neeson and Teresa Palmer in the comedy-mystery 4 Kids Walk into a Bank.
McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner
The most recent cast announcement is McKenna Grace, 18, who will portray Maysilee Donner, Haymitch’s fellow District 12 Tribute. Grace is best known for her performance as young Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel. She recently starred in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire alongside Paul Rudd and Finn Wolfhard, among others. She is also set to appear in a slew of upcoming releases, including another book-to-film adaptation, Regretting You, based on the bestselling book by Colleen Hoover, Five Nights at Freddy’s and Scream 7 with Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox.
What Lionsgate said about the casting process
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group officially announced it would adapt Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping back in June 2024—coinciding with the announcement of the novel itself. Over the past few weeks, rumors have swirled online about who would be cast as young Haymitch and the studio weighed in on the long auditioning process. “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,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erin Westerman said to Deadline. “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.
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