The next Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping has found its two leads to play the young Haymitch Abernathy and his girlfriend Lenore Dove Baird. Per Deadline, Joseph Zada (Invisible Boys) and Whitney Peak (Hocus Pocus 2) are the first cast members to join the film.
Sunrise on the Reaping follows the 50th anniversary of the Hunger Games, better known as the Second Quarter Quell, where the Capitol ordered double the amount of tributes to be reaped for a fight to the death in the arena. As viewers and readers know, Haymitch Abernathy, played by Woody Harrelson in the previous films, was the victor of the 50th Hunger Games and suffered greatly as a result.
Zada will take on the role of young Haymitch, pulled for the Games when he was 16 years old, while Peak will play his girlfriend Lenore Dove Baird, a distant cousin to Rachel Zelger’s Lucy Gray Baird from the previous prequel The Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds.
“The Hunger Games franchise has long been a launching pad for remarkable young actors, and Jo and Whitney carry that legacy forward with incredible heart, depth, and fire,” said Lionsgate Co-President Erin Westerman. “After auditioning hundreds of gifted performers from around the world, these two stood out — not just for their talent, but for the emotional truth they brought to these iconic roles. Haymitch has always been a fan favorite, and his origin story is one of the most anticipated in the franchise. His relationship with Lenore Dove is deeply woven into the emotional history of Panem. We can’t wait for fans to experience the story that shaped one of the most compelling characters in the series.”
“Deb Zane and Dylan Jury oversaw an exhaustive (and exhausting!) search to find a young actor with the skill and imagination to embody young Haymitch,” said producer Nina Jacobson. “Jo prepared like crazy and stole our hearts. Then Whitney took our breath away as Lenore Dove. When we put the two of them together, it was one of those magical casting moments when you know your search has led you home.”
Francis Lawrence returns to the director’s chair for Sunrise on the Reaping after directing every Hunger Games film since Catching Fire. Writing the script for the adaptation is original Hunger Games screenwriter Billy Ray. Producing is Jacobson and Brad Simpson for Color Force with Cameron MacConomy executive producing.
Suzanne Collins’ novel – the sequel prequel to her original Hunger Games trilogy after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – was released last month and scored the best opening for the book series with over 1.5 million copies sold in its first week.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will revisit the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be released on November 20th, 2026.
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