The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’s Cast

The cast for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping keeps growing. Sunrise on the Reaping will be the second Hunger Games prequel movie, the first of which being 2023’s The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The 2023 film was a critical and commercial success which reignited interest in The Hunger Games movie franchise. Therefore, it’s highly likely that the upcoming Sunrise on the Reaping will be one of the biggest movies of 2026, especially since it will focus on one of the most popular Hunger Games characters.

Sunrise on the Reaping will follow Haymitch Abernathy, who was played by Woody Harrelson in the Hunger Games movies. In the film, Haymitch will participate in the 50th Hunger Games, which has double the number of tributes. Because of this, Sunrise on the Reaping may be the most ambitious Hunger Games movie yet. Filming is scheduled to start in July 2025, which means that casting announcements are consistently being made. Therefore, here is the cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping:

Joseph Zada As Haymitch Abernathy

Born: 2005

Actor: Joseph Zada was born in Sydney, Australia in 2005 and first appeared in the 2019 movie Bilched, which was directed by his father and also featured his brother. Afterwards, Zada appeared in several episodes of the Australian political drama Total Control, and also starred in the series Invisible Boys. While these were both Australian productions, Zada was cast in the upcoming show We Were Liars, which will premiere on Prime Video, and will also appear in the Netflix series East of Eden. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be his first major movie role.

Notable Movies & TV Roles:

Character: Zada will play Haymitch Abernathy, the main character in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. In the film, Haymitch will be 16 years old when he gets reaped to participate in the 50th Hunger Games. Sunrise on the Reaping will reveal how Haymitch won the Hunger Games, which was a mystery for a long time before the release of the prequel novel.

Whitney Peak As Lenore Dove

Born: January 28, 2003

Actor: Whitney Peak was born in Kampala, Uganda in 2003, but her family relocated to Canada in 2012. Peak had minor roles in movies like 2017’s Molly’s Game and 2022’s Hocus Pocus 2, and has also starred in several popular shows. She played Judith Blackwood in several episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Zoya Lott, one of the main characters in Gossip Girl, which was based on the CW show of the same name and streamed on HBO Max.

Notable Movies & TV Roles:

Character: Peak will play Lenore Dove, Haymitch’s girlfriend in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. While she doesn’t get reaped for the Hunger Games, Haymitch actually gets chosen after involving himself in a scurry between Lenore Dove and a Peacemaker. Despite this, Haymitch does not hold anything against Lenore Dove and constantly thinks about her while he participates in the 50th Hunger Games.

Mckenna Grace As Maysilee Donner

Born: June 25, 2006

Actor: Mckenna Grace was born in Grapevine, Texas in 2006 and found success as a child actor after starring in the Disney XD sitcom Crash & Bernstein and the soap opera The Young and the Restless. Over the years, she has continued to star in high-profile projects such as Gifted and Captain Marvel. Most notably, she played Phoebe Spengler, one of the main characters in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Notable Movie & TV Roles:

Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Grace will play Maysilee Donner, one of the two girls chosen to represent District 12 in the 50th Hunger Games. In District 12, Maysilee never really got along with Lenore Dove, but she and Haymitch surprisingly form a trusting friendship while preparing for the Hunger Games.

Ralph Fiennes As President Snow

Born: December 22, 1962

Actor: Ralph Fiennes was born in Ipswich, England in 1962 and has been viewed as one of the most critically acclaimed actors in the world for several decades. Throughout his career, he has been nominated for three Academy Awards for starring in 1993’s Schindler’s List, 1996’s The English Patient, and 2024’s Conclave. Additionally, he also gained worldwide recognition for playing Lord Voldemort, the main villain in the Harry Potter films. Therefore, Sunrise on the Reaping won’t be Fiennes’ first time playing a villain in a major franchise.

Notable Movie & TV Roles:

Character: Fiennes will play a 58-year-old President Snow, who rules over Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping. The film will show Snow much earlier into his presidential reign than is seen in the original Hunger Games movies. While President Snow likely won’t be as prominently featured in Sunrise on the Reaping as he was in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which largely focused on him, Haymitch and other characters will still have several interactions with him in the movie.

Jesse Plemons As Plutarch Heavensbee

Born: April 2, 1988

Actor: Jesse Plemons was born in Dallas, Texas in 1988 and quickly started working as a child actor. Eventually, he experienced his first breakthrough after landing the role of Landry Clark in Friday Night Lights. Plemons has also appeared in shows like Breaking Bad, Fargo, and Black Mirror. Additionally, Plemons has starred in a wide variety of acclaimed movies, such as The Master, The Irishman, The Power of the Dog, and Killers of the Flower Moon.

Notable Movie & TV Roles:

Character: Plemons will portray Plutarch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Years before he ends up being one of the leading members of the rebellion against the Capitol, Plutarch is a cameraman who is assigned to film the District 12 tributes. Haymitch doesn’t trust Plutarch since he is from the Capitol, but there are hints that he doesn’t agree with the Hunger Games.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. As Beetee Latier

Born: July 23, 1994

Actor: Kelvin Harrison Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1994 and landed several smaller roles in movies like Ender’s Game and 12 Years a Slave at the start of his career. Since then, Harrison Jr. has earned immense acclaim for starring in movies such as Luce, Waves, and The Trial of the Chicago Seven. Additionally, he portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in the show Genius and also voiced Scar in Mufasa: The Lion King.

Notable Movie & TV Roles:

Character: Harrison Jr. will play Beetee, who will serve as a mentor for the tributes in Sunrise on the Reaping years after winning the 34th Hunger Games. Beetee is a genius when it comes to technology, and will teach Haymitch some valuable lessons in Sunrise on the Reaping. Beetee will also have a personal connection to the 50th Hunger Games, as his son, Ampert, will be one of the tributes selected to participate.

Maya Hawke As Wiress

Born: July 8, 1998

Actor: Maya Hawke was born in New York City in 1998 and is the daughter of Hollywood actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. Hawke decided to follow in her parent’s footsteps and pursue acting, and is also a singer-songwriter and a model. She has appeared in movies such as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Mainstream, Fear Street Part One: 1994, Asteroid City, and voiced the character Anxiety in 2024’s Inside Out 2. She has also been a main character in Stranger Things since the hit Netflix show’s third season.

Notable Movie & TV Roles:

Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Hawke will play Wiress, who managed to win the 49th Hunger Games without actually killing anyone. Just like Beetee, Wiress is known for her impressive intellect, and will mentor the District 12 tributes in Sunrise on the Reaping.

Lili Taylor As Mags Flanagan

Born: February 20, 1967

Actor: Lili Taylor was born in Glencoe, Illinois in 1967 and, in addition to finding mainstream success, established herself as one of the key actresses for independent cinema in the 1990s. Her notable indie films include Bright Angel, Dogfight, and I Shot Andy Warhol. Additionally, Taylor has also starred in several mainstream films, such as High Fidelity, The Conjuring, and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, which is a young adult film set in a dystopia, which is exactly what Sunrise on the Reaping will be.

Notable Movie & TV Roles:

Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Taylor will play Mags, the winner of the 11th Hunger Games, which took place just a year after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Along with Wiress, Mags will mentor Haymitch and the other District 12 tributes in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

Elle Fanning As Effie Trinket

Born: April 9, 1998

Actor: Elle Fanning was born in Conyers, Georgia in 1998 and started her acting career at a very young age. Her first movie role was playing a younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning’s character in I Am Sam. From there, Fanning appeared in many films as a child actress, such as Daddy Day Care, Babel, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. More recently, she has starred in acclaimed films like 20th Century Women, The Beguiled, and A Complete Unknown.

Notable Movie & TV Roles:

Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Fanning will play Effie Trinket, one of the most popular characters from The Hunger Games movies. Effie will likely not have a major role in Sunrise on the Reaping, but she will help dress District 12’s tributes before they present themselves in front of the people of the Capitol. Just like she was in the original Hunger Games films, Fanning’s version of Effie will likely be very over-the-top and extravagant.

Kieran Culkin As Caesar Flickerman

Born: September 30, 1982

Actor: Kieran Culkin was born in New York City in 1982 and made his feature film debut in 1990 in Home Alone alongside his brother, Macaulay Culkin. In recent years, Culkin has experienced incredible success. Firstly, he received immense acclaim and a Lead Actor Emmy win for starring in the HBO drama series Succession. Additionally, he also recently won Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards for his work in A Real Pain.

Notable Movie & TV Roles:

Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Culkin will play Caesar Flickerman, the host of the 50th Hunger Games. Culkin’s character will be featured most prominently in the film when he interviews Haymitch and the other tributes ahead of the Hunger Games.

Ben Wang As Wyatt Callow

Born: January 1, 2000

Actor: Ben Wang was born in Shanghai, China in 2000 and eventually moved to the United States when he was six. In 2023, he received recognition for starring in the Disney+ movie Chang Can Dunk and the Disney+ sitcom American Born Chinese. Since then, he has continued to pave his path as a rising star in Hollywood. In 2025, he is starring in major movies like Karate Kid: Legends and The Long Walk, which is an adaptation of a Stephen King novel and will be helmed by Francis Lawrence, who is also directing Sunrise on the Reaping.

Notable Movie & TV Roles:

Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Wang will play Wyatt, the second male tribute from District 12. Just like Maysilee, he will also initially butt heads with Haymitch before the two form a friendship. Wyatt comes from a family that organizes bets for every Hunger Games, which means he approaches the competition in a unique way after being reaped.

Glenn Close As Drusilla Sickle

Born: March 19, 1947

Actor: Glenn Close was born in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1947 and has had an incredibly successful career that has spanned over five decades. Throughout her career, she has been nominated for eight Academy Awards for her roles in films like Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Wife, and has also been nominated for multiple Golden Globe Awards, Tony Awards, and Emmy Awards. Close also played the vivacious villain Cruella de Vil in both 101 Dalmatians and 102 Dalmatians, a character that may be somewhat similar to her upcoming Hunger Games role.

Notable Movie & TV Roles:

Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Close will play Drusilla Sickle, an escort from the Capitol who carries out the reaping ceremony in District 12 for the 50th Hunger Games. After the reaping ceremony, Drusilla will travel with Haymitch, Maysilee, Wyatt, and Louella and try to prepare them for their time in the Capitol before the games begin.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Supporting Cast & Characters

Sunrise On The Reaping Will Have A Large Cast

Molly McCann as Louella McCoy: Louella is the fourth tribute from District 12 who gets reaped for the 50th Hunger Games. Since Haymitch has known her for most of his life and she is the youngest District 12 tribute, he makes it his goal to protect her. McCann has also appeared in the John Cena-led movie Freelance and in shows like Bad Sisters and The Hardacres.

Iona Bell as Lou Lou: Lou Lou is one of the most mysterious characters in Sunrise on the Reaping, but will also work with Haymitch and his allies during the 50th Hunger Games. Like Louella, Lou Lou is one of the youngest tributes participating in the games. Bell has starred in several short films and, in addition to Sunrise on the Reaping, will appear in multiple upcoming feature films.

Billy Porter as Magno Stift: Magno is legally married to Drusilla Sickle and will be the stylist for the District 12 tributes leading up to the 50th Hunger Games. However, Magno constantly arrives late and is not known to be particularly good at his job. Porter is an actor and singer who has earned acclaim for starring in the musical Kinky Boots and the television show Pose.

Jhaleil Swaby as Panache: Panache is a tribute from District 1 in the 50th Hunger Games. Leading up to the games, Panache constantly bullies Haymitch and other tributes. He is related to a previous Hunger Games winner and is confident that he will win, as well. Swaby has previously starred in the 2022 movie White Dog, as well as shows like The Lake, Supergirl, and The Next Step.

Laura Marcus as Silka: Just like Panache, Silka is also a tribute from District 1 who competes in the 50th Hunger Games. Silka will be viewed as a favorite to win the Hunger Games in Sunrise on the Reaping and will prove just how dangerous she is in the arena. Marcus previously played Beela in Andor season 2, and has also appeared in shows like The Serpent Queen and The Jetty.

Percy Daggs IV as Ampert: Ampert is a tribute from District 3 and is the son of former Hunger Games winner Beetee Latier. Tragically, Ampert is picked for the 50th Hunger Games to punish Beetee for attempting to sabotage the Capitol’s communications system. In the lead up to the games, Ampert forms an alliance, called the Newcomers, which is meant to give them a fighting chance against the Careers. Daggs has previously starred in the 2024 horror movie Never Let Go and shows like Paradise and The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.

Rada Rae as Wellie: Wellie is a tribute from District 6 who competes in the 50th Hunger Games. She is a member of the Newcomers alliance and Haymitch will feel protective over her in Sunrise on the Reaping. Rae has previously starred in the 2025 Netflix movie Exterritorial and has appeared in several short films.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Release Date

November 20, 2026

Director

Francis Lawrence

Writers

Billy Ray

Producers

Brad Simpson

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  Joseph Zada

  Haymitch Abernathy

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  Whitney Peak

  Lenore Dove Baird

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  Mckenna Grace

  Maysilee Donner

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