The Hunger Games was such a breakout success in both the written word and the silver screen, so it stands as no surprise that the prequel series is proving just as popular. This week, Lionsgate looks to keep the hype rolling for the second of the prequel films, Sunrise on the Reaping, with some excellent cast announcements!
On Wednesday, the news came through that the role of Haymitch Abernathy would be played by Joseph Zada, and Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird, will be portrayed by Whitney Peak. Zada is a rising star in the making, with upcoming roles in Amazon Prime’s We Were Liars and Netflix’s East of Eden, while Peak is best known for her role of Zoya Lott in the Max reboot of Gossip Girl as well as a role in Hocus Pocus 2.
Thursday’s news saw the role of Maysilee Donner, Haymitch’s fellow Tribute, being taken up by the actor Mckenna Grace, best known for her roles in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. She can currently be seen in the adaptation of Regretting You on Paramount.
Finally, today’s big bombshell cast announcement was the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, previously portrayed by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in his final film roles during The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2. For this younger take on Heavensbee, Lionsgate has decided to come out swinging with the Oscar nominee Jesse Plemons! Plemons, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in The Power of the Dog, is also known for roles in Killers of the Flower Moon and A24’s Civil War.
Lionsgate appears to be attempting to fill this cast with a series of relatively new young actors, which is always a great plan, and the inclusion of Plemons, one of the most versatile actors at it right now, will likely do wonders tying the cast together. I look forward to seeing what further information will be revealed as we crawl towards the release!
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be released on November 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence will direct from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray. Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will produce. Cameron MacConomy will executive produce.
