The cast for <em>The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping</em> continues to expand with exciting new additions. This highly anticipated film will serve as the second prequel in the Hunger Games franchise, following the successful release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in 2023. The previous film garnered both critical acclaim and impressive box office returns, sparking renewed interest in the Hunger Games franchise. As a result, the upcoming Sunrise on the Reaping is poised to be one of the most significant cinematic events of 2026, especially given its focus on one of the most beloved characters from the Hunger Games universe.
Sunrise on the Reaping will center on the character Haymitch Abernathy, who was portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original Hunger Games films. This installment will depict Haymitch’s involvement in the 50th Hunger Games, a unique event featuring double the number of tributes. The ambitious scope of Sunrise on the Reaping suggests it will push the boundaries of storytelling within the Hunger Games saga. Filming is set to begin in July 2025, leading to a flurry of casting announcements. Below is the current cast list for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping:
Actor |
Character |
---|---|
Joseph Zada |
Haymitch Abernathy |
Whitney Peak |
Lenore Dove |
Mckenna Grace |
Maysilee Donner |
Ralph Fiennes |
President Snow |
Jesse Plemons |
Plutarch Heavensbee |
Kelvin Harrison Jr. |
Beetee Latier |
Maya Hawke |
Wiress |
Lili Taylor |
Mags Flanagan |
Ben Wang |
Wyatt Callow |
Elle Fanning |
Effie Trinket |
Molly McCann |
Louella McCoy |
Iona Bell |
Lou Lou |
Joseph Zada Takes on the Role of Haymitch Abernathy
Date of Birth: 2005
Actor: Joseph Zada, who was born in Sydney, Australia in 2005, made his debut in the film Bilched in 2019, which was directed by his father and featured his brother as well. Following this, Zada showcased his talent in various episodes of the Australian political drama Total Control and starred in the series Invisible Boys. While these projects were primarily Australian productions, Zada has also been cast in the upcoming series We Were Liars, set to premiere on Prime Video, and he will appear in the Netflix adaptation of East of Eden. Notably, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping marks his first major film role, showcasing his growth as an actor.
Notable Movies & TV Roles:
Title |
Character |
---|---|
Bilched (2019) |
Toby |
The Speedway Murders (2023) |
Dan |
Total Control (2024) |
Daniel |
Invisible Boys (2025) |
Charlie Roth |
Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Zada portrays Haymitch Abernathy, a pivotal character in the narrative. At the age of 16, Haymitch is reaped to compete in the 50th Hunger Games. This film aims to explore and reveal the intriguing details surrounding Haymitch’s victory in the Hunger Games, a storyline that has long been shrouded in mystery since the release of the prequel novel.
Whitney Peak Portrays Lenore Dove
Date of Birth: January 28, 2003
Actor: Whitney Peak was born in Kampala, Uganda in 2003 and relocated to Canada with her family in 2012. She has had minor roles in films such as Molly’s Game (2017) and Hocus Pocus 2 (2022), while also gaining fame through her performances in popular television series. Peak played Judith Blackwood in multiple episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and portrayed Zoya Lott, a leading character in the recent adaptation of Gossip Girl, which aired on HBO Max.
Notable Movies & TV Roles:
Title |
Character |
---|---|
Molly’s Game (2017) |
Stella |
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2019-2020) |
Becca |
Gossip Girl (2021-2023) |
Judith Blackwood |
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022) |
Zoya Lott |
Character: In The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Peak will portray Lenore Dove, the girlfriend of Haymitch Abernathy. While Lenore does not get reaped for the Hunger Games, her involvement in a scuffle with a Peacemaker ultimately leads to Haymitch being chosen. Despite this twist of fate, Haymitch continues to hold fond memories of Lenore throughout his participation in the 50th Hunger Games, which influences his emotional journey.
Mckenna Grace Takes on the Role of Maysilee Donner
Date of Birth: June 25, 2006
Actor: Mckenna Grace, born in Grapevine, Texas in 2006, gained prominence as a child actor after starring in the Disney XD sitcom Crash & Bernstein and the long-running soap opera The Young and the Restless. She has since continued to shine in high-profile projects, including Gifted and Captain Marvel. Notably, she portrayed Phoebe Spengler, one of the lead characters in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and will reprise her role in the upcoming Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
Notable Movie & TV Roles:
Title |
Character |
---|---|
Gifted (2017) |
Mary Adler |
Captain Marvel (2019) |
Carol Danvers (age 13) |
Annabelle Comes Home (2019) |
Judy Warren |
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) |
Phoebe Spengler |
Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Grace will portray Maysilee Donner, one of the two female tributes representing District 12 in the 50th Hunger Games. Maysilee’s relationship with Lenore Dove is strained, yet she unexpectedly develops a trusting bond with Haymitch as they prepare for the challenges of the Hunger Games together.
Ralph Fiennes Plays the Role of President Snow
Date of Birth: December 22, 1962
Actor: Ralph Fiennes was born in Ipswich, England in 1962 and is renowned as one of the most critically acclaimed actors globally, with accolades spanning several decades. Throughout his illustrious career, he has received three Academy Award nominations for his performances in Schindler’s List (1993), The English Patient (1996), and Conclave (2024). Additionally, he gained international fame for portraying Lord Voldemort, the iconic antagonist in the Harry Potter franchise. Therefore, Sunrise on the Reaping marks another instance of Fiennes embodying a villainous role within a major film franchise.
Notable Movies & TV Roles:
Title |
Character |
---|---|
Schindler’s List (1993) |
Amon Goeth |
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) |
Lord Voldemort |
Skyfall (2012) |
Gareth Mallory |
Conclave (2024) |
Cardinal Lawrence |
Character: Fiennes will portray a 58-year-old President Snow, who presides over the dystopian nation of Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping. The film will depict Snow in the early stages of his presidency, providing a backstory not explored in the original Hunger Games films. Although President Snow may not play a central role in Sunrise on the Reaping compared to his significant presence in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, he will have crucial interactions with Haymitch and other key characters throughout the movie.
Jesse Plemons Takes on the Role of Plutarch Heavensbee
Date of Birth: April 2, 1988
Actor: Jesse Plemons, born in Dallas, Texas in 1988, began his career as a child actor and quickly gained recognition. He experienced his breakthrough starring as Landry Clark in the acclaimed series Friday Night Lights. Plemons has also made appearances in notable shows such as Breaking Bad, Fargo, and Black Mirror. Additionally, he has starred in numerous critically acclaimed films, including The Master, The Irishman, The Power of the Dog, and Killers of the Flower Moon.
Notable Movies & TV Roles:
Title |
Character |
---|---|
Friday Night Lights (2006-2011) |
Landry Clark |
Breaking Bad (2008-2013) |
Todd Alquist |
The Power of the Dog (2021) |
George Burbank |
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) |
Tom White |
Character: In The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Plemons will portray Plutarch Heavensbee, a character who, long before he becomes a significant figure in the rebellion against the Capitol, works as a cameraman tasked with filming the tributes from District 12. Haymitch’s initial distrust of Plutarch arises from his Capitol origins, but there are subtle hints suggesting that Plutarch may not fully support the Hunger Games.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. Portrays Beetee Latier
Date of Birth: July 23, 1994
Actor: Kelvin Harrison Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1994 and began his career with several smaller roles in films like Ender’s Game and 12 Years a Slave. He has since garnered critical acclaim for his performances in films such as Luce, Waves, and The Trial of the Chicago Seven. Additionally, he has portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in the series Genius and lent his voice to Scar in the upcoming film Mufasa: The Lion King.
Notable Movie & TV Roles:
Title |
Character |
---|---|
Genius (2017-Present) |
Martin Luther King Jr. |
Luce (2019) |
Luce Edgar |
Waves (2019) |
Tyler Williams |
Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) |
Scar |
Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Harrison Jr. will take on the role of Beetee, a character who serves as a mentor to the tributes. Having previously won the 34th Hunger Games, Beetee is a technological genius who imparts valuable lessons to Haymitch throughout the story. Additionally, Beetee has a personal stake in the 50th Hunger Games, as his son, Ampert, will be among the tributes selected to compete.
Maya Hawke Takes on the Role of Wiress
Date of Birth: July 8, 1998
Actor: Maya Hawke was born in New York City in 1998 and is the daughter of notable actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. Following in her parents’ footsteps, Hawke pursued a career in acting, while also showcasing her talents as a singer-songwriter and model. Her filmography includes roles in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Mainstream, Fear Street Part One: 1994, Asteroid City, and she voices the character Anxiety in Inside Out 2, slated for release in 2024. Additionally, she has been a prominent character on Stranger Things since its third season.
Notable Movie & TV Roles:
Title |
Character |
---|---|
Stranger Things (2016-Present) |
Robin Buckley |
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) |
“Flowerchild” |
Asteroid City (2023) |
June Douglas |
Inside Out 2 (2024) |
Anxiety |
Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Hawke will portray Wiress, a clever character who managed to win the 49th Hunger Games without killing anyone. Known for her intelligence, Wiress will serve as a mentor to the District 12 tributes, guiding them through the complexities of the games.
Lili Taylor Takes on the Role of Mags Flanagan
Date of Birth: February 20, 1967
Actor: Lili Taylor was born in Glencoe, Illinois in 1967. She has successfully established herself as a prominent actress in both mainstream and independent cinema since the 1990s. Taylor has starred in notable indie films such as Bright Angel, Dogfight, and I Shot Andy Warhol. She has also appeared in several mainstream productions, including High Fidelity, The Conjuring, and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, a young adult film set in a dystopian world, similar to the setting of Sunrise on the Reaping.
Notable Movie & TV Roles:
Title |
Character |
---|---|
High Fidelity (2000) |
Sarah Kendrew |
The Conjuring (2013) |
Carolyn Perron |
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) |
Dr. Mary Cooper |
Outer Range (2022-2024) |
Cecelia Abbott |
Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Taylor will portray Mags Flanagan, the victor of the 11th Hunger Games, which occurred just a year after the events depicted in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Alongside Wiress, Mags will serve as a mentor to Haymitch and the other District 12 tributes, guiding them in their preparation for the brutal competition.
Elle Fanning Takes on the Role of Effie Trinket
Date of Birth: April 9, 1998
Actor: Elle Fanning was born in Conyers, Georgia in 1998 and began her acting career at a very young age. Her first role involved playing a younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning’s character in I Am Sam. Since then, Fanning has appeared in numerous films as a child actress, including Daddy Day Care, Babel, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. More recently, she has starred in critically acclaimed films like 20th Century Women, The Beguiled, and A Complete Unknown.
Notable Movie & TV Roles:
Title |
Character |
---|---|
Phoebe in Wonderland (2008) |
Phoebe |
Super 8 (2011) |
Alice |
The Beguiled (2017) |
Alicia |
A Complete Unknown (2024) |
Sylvie Russo |
Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Fanning will portray Effie Trinket, one of the most iconic and beloved characters from the Hunger Games films. Although Effie’s role may not be as central in this installment, she will play a crucial part in styling the District 12 tributes for their public appearances in front of the Capitol. True to her character’s personality from the original films, Fanning’s Effie will likely exude extravagance and flair.
Ben Wang Portrays Wyatt Callow
Date of Birth: January 1, 2000
Actor: Ben Wang was born in Shanghai, China in 2000 and moved to the United States at the age of six. He gained recognition in 2023 for his role in the Disney+ film Chang Can Dunk and the Disney+ series American Born Chinese. Wang is on the rise in Hollywood, with significant roles in upcoming films like Karate Kid: Legends and The Long Walk, an adaptation of a Stephen King novel directed by Francis Lawrence, who is also helming Sunrise on the Reaping.
Notable Movie & TV Roles:
Title |
Character |
---|---|
Chang Can Dunk (2023) |
Bo |
American Born Chinese (2023) |
Jin Wang |
Karate Kid: Legends (2025) |
Li Fong |
The Long Walk (2025) |
Henry Olson |
Character: In Sunrise on the Reaping, Wang will portray Wyatt Callow, the second male tribute from District 12. Initially, Wyatt and Haymitch clash, but as the story unfolds, they form a strong friendship. Wyatt comes from a family that organizes bets on every Hunger Games, which gives him a unique perspective on the competition after being reaped.
Supporting Cast and Characters in The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping
Expect a Large Ensemble Cast for Sunrise On The Reaping
Molly McCann as Louella McCoy: Louella is the fourth tribute from District 12 who is reaped for the 50th Hunger Games. Having known Haymitch for most of his life, he takes it upon himself to protect her throughout the competition. McCann has also appeared in the John Cena-led film Freelance and television series like Bad Sisters and The Hardacres.
Iona Bell as Lou Lou: Lou Lou is one of the enigmatic characters featured in Sunrise on the Reaping, working alongside Haymitch and his allies during the 50th Hunger Games. Similar to Louella, Lou Lou is one of the youngest tributes competing in the games. Bell has starred in several short films and will feature in various upcoming feature films alongside Sunrise on the Reaping.
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