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The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping<\/em><\/a>, directed by franchise veteran Francis Lawrence<\/strong>, is set to hit theaters next year.<\/p>\n Though it\u2019s the newest film in the series, the story takes us back in time, decades before Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence<\/a>)<\/strong>\u00a0volunteered as tribute. This prequel centers on a young Haymitch Abernathy, the character portrayed by Woody Harrelson<\/strong> <\/a>in the original films, and the brutal 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.<\/p>\n \u201cHaymitch has always been a fan favorite, and his origin story is one of the most anticipated in the franchise,\u201dco-president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group\u00a0Erin Westerman<\/strong>\u00a0said in a press release. \u201cWe can\u2019t wait for fans to experience the story that shaped one of the most compelling characters in the series.\u201d<\/p>\n Led by Joseph Zada<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0as young Haymitch, the prequel introduces a fresh cast of rising stars and familiar faces stepping into the world of Panem. Here\u2019s a look at who\u2019s starring in this long-awaited return to the arena.<\/p>\n Zada, a 20-year-old Australian actor, takes on the role of young Haymitch Abernathy, the sole male tribute from District 12 in the 50th Hunger Games.<\/span> Zada has previously appeared in Australian productions such as Invisible Boys<\/em> and Total Control<\/em>. He\u2019s also set to appear in the upcoming series We Were Liars<\/em> and East of Eden<\/em>, starring alongside Florence Pugh<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Casting a younger version of such a well-established character was no small task. In a March 2025 interview with Variety<\/em><\/a>, producer Nina Jacobson<\/strong> acknowledged the difficulty of finding someone who could embody the essence of Haymitch without mimicking Harrelson\u2019s original portrayal.<\/p>\n \u201cNobody can be Woody Harrelson but Woody Harrelson,\u201d she said. \u201cYou don\u2019t want somebody who\u2019s impersonating Woody, but you want somebody who very credibly feels like they could be a young version of this character, before the trauma and grief and rage that the fallout of the Games create.\u201d<\/p>\n Whitney Peak<\/strong><\/a>, 22, portrays Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch\u2019s girlfriend and a member of the Covey, a musical group from District 12.<\/span> Peak is known for her roles in the Gossip Girl<\/em> reboot and Hocus Pocus 2.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Mckenna Grace<\/strong><\/a> plays Maysilee Donner, another tribute from District 12 and a temporary ally of Haymitch during the Games. At just 18, Grace is already a seasoned film and television actor, with standout roles in Ghostbusters: Afterlife<\/em>, The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/em>, and Young Sheldon<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n Jesse Plemons<\/strong><\/a> plays Plutarch Heavensbee, a rising figure in the Capitol who becomes crucial to the future of Panem. The 37-year-old actor is known for his acclaimed performances in The Power of the Dog<\/em>, Breaking Bad<\/em>, and Fargo.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cJesse is one of the most talented actors of his generation, with a proven record of picking his roles selectively,\u201d Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Westerman said in a statement, per Deadline<\/em><\/a>. \u201cWe are honored that he has chosen to bring his own take to one of the most fascinating figures in Panem, and feel that his previous collaboration with Philip Seymour Hoffman makes it all the more special. His Plutarch will be both a tribute to the character fans have already come to know and a portrayal he makes his own. We can\u2019t wait for audiences to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ellen Fanning<\/strong> <\/a>will be playing the younger version of Effie Trinket, the iconic character from the original franchise who lived with the term, \u201cMay the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor.\u201d Elle has appeared in a slew of projects, some of which include A Complete Unknown, The Girl From Plainville<\/em> and Maleficent<\/em>.<\/p>\n First played by Stanley Tucci<\/strong><\/a>, Caesar Flickerman will now be 24 years younger than when we first met him in The Hunger Games<\/em>. The buoyant and charismatic show host is known for his on-screen charm as he welcomes tributes onto the stage before they fight to the death. In Sunrise<\/em>, Caesar will be played by Kieran Culkin<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Kieran has been seen in a variety of roles but has recently earned more accolades for his work. Some of his most notable performances are in Succession<\/em> and in A Real Pain<\/em>, for which he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.<\/p>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\nJoseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy<\/h2>\n
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Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird<\/h2>\n
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Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner<\/h2>\n
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Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee<\/h2>\n
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Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket<\/h2>\n
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Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman<\/h2>\n