The Full Cast Of 'Sunrise On The Reaping' Revealed: 7 Shocking Returns And New Stars

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is easily the most anticipated prequel in the franchise, promising to finally tell the story of the legendary 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. As of today, December 18, 2025, the official cast announcements have delivered a mix of exciting new talent and shocking returns from the original trilogy, setting the stage for a brutal and emotionally resonant film set for release on November 20, 2026. This movie will not only follow a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy through the deadliest Games in history but also feature a new generation of stars stepping into iconic roles.

The casting process, led by director Francis Lawrence, has been meticulous, focusing on finding actors who can embody the trauma and resilience of the District 12 tributes while also bridging the 24-year gap between the events of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and The Hunger Games. From the young Australian actor taking on the mantle of Haymitch to the surprising choice for a middle-aged President Snow, the ensemble is packed with talent ready to explore the darkest chapter of Panem's history.

The Confirmed Cast of The 50th Hunger Games (Second Quarter Quell)

The core of Sunrise on the Reaping revolves around the devastating 50th Hunger Games, where the tributes were forced to compete in a massive arena designed to be a beautiful, yet deadly, garden. The cast list below includes the new leads, key supporting players, and the unexpected returning veterans who will shape the narrative.

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• Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy: The future mentor of Katniss Everdeen, Zada will portray the 16-year-old Haymitch as he enters the brutal arena of the Second Quarter Quell.
• Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner: Haymitch’s fellow female tribute from District 12 and his crucial ally in the arena. Maysilee is a fan-favorite character whose fate is central to Haymitch's story.
• Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird: A newly created character for the film, likely a close friend or family member of Haymitch in District 12, adding depth to his backstory.
• Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow: Fiennes is set to portray the Capitol's leader, bridging the gap between Tom Blythe's young, ambitious Snow and Donald Sutherland's tyrannical older Snow.
• Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee: The future Head Gamemaker, Plemons will take on the role of a younger, possibly newly appointed Gamemaker who will eventually become a key figure in the rebellion.
• Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier: The brilliant Victor from District 3, known for his genius with electronics. This casting suggests a deeper look into the lives of the past victors.
• Maya Hawke as Wiress: The other Victor from District 3, known for her nervous demeanor and sharp mind. Hawke's casting alongside Harrison Jr. confirms the inclusion of these fan-favorite characters.
• Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket: While unconfirmed how she fits into the timeline, Fanning is rumored to play a younger version of the District 12 escort, decades before she meets Katniss.

The New Faces of District 12: Haymitch, Maysilee, and Lenore's Profiles

The film’s success hinges on the performances of the young actors portraying the District 12 tributes. Their biographies reveal a wealth of talent and experience, despite their relative youth, promising a powerful portrayal of the doomed teens of the Seam.

Joseph Zada (Haymitch Abernathy)

Joseph Zada, born Joseph Cumpston on July 21, 2005, is a rising Australian actor who has quickly gained international attention. His casting as the young Haymitch Abernathy marks his most high-profile role to date, requiring him to capture the character's early swagger, vulnerability, and the devastating loss that transforms him into the cynical man fans know.

Key Biographical Highlights:

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• Origin: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• Age: 20 (as of 2025).
• Notable Roles: Zada has appeared in television series such as Total and was cast in Netflix’s limited series East of Eden, based on the John Steinbeck novel. He also appeared in We Were Liars.
• Significance in Sunrise on the Reaping: He must convincingly portray the charismatic and cunning young Haymitch whose unconventional victory in the 50th Games will lead to tragic consequences back in District 12.

Mckenna Grace (Maysilee Donner)

Mckenna Grace is arguably the most established young actor in the new cast, bringing a wealth of experience to the role of Maysilee Donner. Born on June 25, 2006, in Grapevine, Texas, Grace began her career at a very young age and has proven her versatility in both dramatic and genre roles.

Key Biographical Highlights:

• Origin: Grapevine, Texas, USA.
• Notable Roles: She received critical acclaim for her lead role in the 2017 film Gifted. She is also widely recognized for playing a young version of the lead characters in films like I, Tonya and Captain Marvel, and for her starring role in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
• Significance in Sunrise on the Reaping: Maysilee is a key emotional anchor for Haymitch. Grace's proven ability to handle intense, dramatic roles makes her an ideal choice to portray Maysilee's journey and tragic alliance with Haymitch.

Whitney Peak (Lenore Dove Baird)

Whitney Peak is a Canadian actress known for her breakthrough roles in major streaming series. Her casting as Lenore Dove Baird, a character not in the original book, suggests the film will expand on Haymitch's life outside the arena, adding new layers of emotional stakes.

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Key Biographical Highlights:

• Origin: Canada.
• Notable Roles: Peak rose to prominence as the lead in the HBO Max reboot of Gossip Girl. She also had a recurring role in Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and starred in the Disney+ sequel Hocus Pocus 2. Her first on-screen appearance was in the film Molly’s Game.
• Significance in Sunrise on the Reaping: As a new character, Lenore's relationship with Haymitch will be a fresh element for fans, potentially exploring the deep-seated fear and community bonds in District 12 before Katniss's time.

The Biggest Surprises: Jennifer Lawrence's Return and Ralph Fiennes' Snow

While the new tributes are the heart of the prequel, the biggest headlines have been dominated by two unexpected casting announcements that have ignited fan speculation and curiosity: the return of the original stars and the new actor for President Snow.

The Shocking Return of Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson

Multiple reports have indicated that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are set to reprise their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, respectively. This news is highly surprising, as Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before Katniss and Peeta are even born. The only logical explanation for their involvement is through a narrative framing device.

Fan Theories on Their Return:

• Flashback/Narration: The most likely scenario is that the film will use Katniss and Peeta in a brief prologue or epilogue. They could be narrating the story of Haymitch's Games to their children, connecting the past trauma to the fragile peace they now enjoy.
• Contextual Scenes: Their scenes could be set after the events of Mockingjay, where they are discussing the history of the Games, particularly the Quarter Quells, to ensure the next generation never forgets.
• A Dream Sequence: Less likely, but possible, is a sequence showing Katniss dreaming or reflecting on the history of the Victors who came before her.

Regardless of the method, the return of Lawrence and Hutcherson is a massive draw, offering a nostalgic link to the original trilogy while emphasizing that Haymitch's story is the foundation of their own.

Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow

The casting of Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow is a significant move that solidifies the film’s bridge between the two eras. In The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Tom Blythe portrayed Snow as a conflicted, ambitious young man. In the original trilogy, Donald Sutherland played the elderly, ruthless dictator. Fiennes is tasked with portraying the character in the middle—a Capitol power player who has solidified his control but has not yet reached the age of the old tyrant.

Fiennes, a two-time Oscar nominee known for his intense and dramatic roles, including Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series, brings the necessary gravitas to this pivotal stage of Snow's life. His performance will likely show the chilling evolution of Snow from a Capitol student to a calculating, cold-hearted leader, fully embracing the cruelty of the Games as a tool of oppression. This casting choice perfectly encapsulates the film's goal: to show how the trauma of the Games created the villains as well as the heroes.

The Topical Authority: The 50th Games and its Unique Horror

Sunrise on the Reaping is not just another prequel; it is the story of the Second Quarter Quell, a Games designed to be twice as cruel as the regular annual event. The unique horror of the 50th Games is that the number of tributes was doubled, with two boys and two girls reaped from each of the 12 Districts, resulting in 48 tributes—a bloodbath of unprecedented scale.

The arena itself was a beautiful, sprawling garden, filled with seemingly harmless but ultimately lethal flora and fauna, making the environment as much of a killer as the other tributes. This setting provides a visually stunning yet terrifying backdrop for Haymitch’s strategic genius to shine through, culminating in his famous use of the arena's force field—a move that directly led to the execution of his loved ones and his descent into alcoholism. This film is poised to be the darkest and most psychologically complex entry in the franchise yet, cementing the legacy of Haymitch Abernathy and the true cost of victory in Panem.