The Ultimate Guide To The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Cast And Character Roles
The Hunger Games franchise is roaring back to life with its highly anticipated prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and the confirmed cast list is a star-studded revelation that promises to redefine the world of Panem. As of December 23, 2025, the film is officially in post-production, building immense hype for its 2026 release. This new installment delves into the brutal and pivotal 50th Hunger Games—the Second Quarter Quell—which cemented the tragic legend of a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy.
This article provides the most current and comprehensive breakdown of the film’s cast, from the breakout stars portraying the District 12 tributes to the shocking recasting of iconic Capitol roles, offering a fresh, deep dive into the actors who will bring Suzanne Collins’ latest novel to the big screen. The creative team is focusing on a blend of rising talent and established veterans to capture the devastating reality of Haymitch’s victory and the dark origins of his mentor persona.
The New Faces of District 12: Haymitch Abernathy and Maysilee Donner
The core of Sunrise on the Reaping revolves around the two tributes from the impoverished District 12, and the casting choices for these pivotal roles showcase a commitment to finding powerful, yet relatively fresh, talent to carry the emotional weight of the story.
Joseph Zada: The Young Haymitch Abernathy
- Full Name: Joseph Cumpston (Professionally known as Joseph Zada)
- Date of Birth: July 21, 2005
- Nationality: Australian
- Role in The Hunger Games: Haymitch Abernathy (Age 16)
- Previous Notable Work: Zada is a rising Australian actor, previously starring in the Australian drama Invisible Boys and the TV series Total Control. His casting as the younger version of the character famously played by Woody Harrelson is his first major international breakout role, requiring him to embody the rebellious spirit and underlying trauma of the future mentor.
Mckenna Grace: Maysilee Donner
- Full Name: Mckenna Grace
- Date of Birth: June 25, 2006
- Nationality: American
- Role in The Hunger Games: Maysilee Donner (District 12 Female Tribute)
- Previous Notable Work: Grace is a highly acclaimed young actress with an already extensive filmography, including roles in Gifted, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and The Handmaid's Tale. Her character, Maysilee Donner, is Haymitch's fellow tribute from District 12 and a key figure in the arena, whose fate is central to Haymitch's tragic backstory and his eventual cynicism.
Whitney Peak: Lenore Dove Baird
- Full Name: Whitney Peak
- Role in The Hunger Games: Lenore Dove Baird
- Character Details: Lenore Dove Baird is a new character for the film, though she is connected to the legacy of Lucy Gray Baird from the previous prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Her role is expected to be crucial in the events leading up to the reaping, potentially interacting with a young Haymitch in District 12.
Major Capitol Recastings: Iconic Roles and New Villains
One of the most exciting aspects of Sunrise on the Reaping is the introduction of younger versions of characters from the original series, alongside entirely new Capitol figures. The casting for these roles features a lineup of Hollywood heavyweights, adding significant gravitas to the prequel.
Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman
The role of the flamboyant, ever-present host of the Hunger Games, originally played by Stanley Tucci, will be taken on by Emmy winner Kieran Culkin. Culkin, known for his sharp wit and compelling performances, is set to portray a younger, perhaps less seasoned, version of Caesar Flickerman, offering a fresh perspective on the man who becomes the face of the Capitol’s propaganda.
Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee
In a fascinating piece of casting, Jesse Plemons has been confirmed to play a young Plutarch Heavensbee. This character was the Head Gamemaker and a key figure in the rebellion in the original series, portrayed by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Plemons’ take on a younger Plutarch, who is reportedly a cameraman for the Games at this time, will be a deep dive into the character’s origins and his evolution from Capitol insider to revolutionary.
Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle
Eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close joins the cast as Drusilla Sickle, the District 12 escort. This is a new character for the film, and early reports suggest Close’s dramatic transformation for the role will be a highlight. Drusilla Sickle serves as the Capitol official responsible for escorting the District 12 tributes, Haymitch and Maysilee, to the Capitol, filling the role that Effie Trinket would eventually take on.
The Returning Legacy and Other Key Supporting Roles
The film doesn't just introduce new faces; it also deepens the lore by including characters who have already appeared in the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, further tying the entire universe together. These casting decisions cement the topical authority of the new film as a true continuation of the Panem narrative.
Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket
While Elizabeth Banks made the character iconic, Elle Fanning has been cast as a younger Effie Trinket. The character is expected to appear in a role related to the Capitol, possibly as a stylist or an early Capitol official, providing a glimpse into her life before she became the District 12 escort.
Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow
The tyrannical leader of Panem, President Coriolanus Snow, will be played by Ralph Fiennes, reprising his role from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Fiennes’ presence ensures continuity in the portrayal of the Capitol’s central villain, whose reign of terror is in full swing during the Second Quarter Quell. His character's actions during the 50th Games are critical to the plot.
The Tributes and Capitol Officials
A number of other actors are set to round out the cast, adding depth to the world of the 50th Hunger Games. These entities are crucial for depicting the scale and brutality of the Quarter Quell:
- Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow (Tribute)
- Molly McCann as Louella McCoy (Tribute)
- Iona Bell as Lou Lou (A District 12 resident)
- Maya Hawke (Role currently unconfirmed, but expected to be a major Capitol or District role)
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Role currently unconfirmed)
The Second Quarter Quell: What to Expect from the Story
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before the events of the first Hunger Games novel and centers entirely on the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. The Quarter Quells are special, more brutal editions of the Games, and the 50th was particularly devastating, featuring twice the usual number of tributes—48 in total—as a special punishment for the districts.
The story will follow the 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy and Maysilee Donner as they navigate the arena, which, in a chilling twist, was designed to be beautiful but deadly. The film explores Haymitch's intelligence, his rebellious nature, and the traumatic events that lead to his victory and the subsequent loss of everyone he loved, ultimately transforming him into the cynical, alcoholic mentor Katniss Everdeen meets decades later. The inclusion of young Plutarch Heavensbee and Caesar Flickerman will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the Capitol's machinery during this pivotal moment in Panem's history, highlighting the deep-seated corruption and spectacle of the Games.
Detail Author:
- Name : Geovanny Heller II
- Username : mohara
- Email : alize.mclaughlin@feest.org
- Birthdate : 1972-12-05
- Address : 632 Romaine Wall Suite 840 East Katheryn, AL 72925-8786
- Phone : +1 (754) 789-0613
- Company : Herzog PLC
- Job : Eligibility Interviewer
- Bio : Placeat libero sunt odit facere impedit. Veritatis sed et iure pariatur. Est tempore dolorem ex vel dolores.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/towne2013
- username : towne2013
- bio : Placeat quo aliquid exercitationem molestiae. Possimus inventore aut qui suscipit modi architecto. Amet eveniet perspiciatis autem natus distinctio.
- followers : 3861
- following : 2443
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/katelyn_xx
- username : katelyn_xx
- bio : Est possimus tempora qui qui molestiae a in.
- followers : 172
- following : 1828
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/katelyntowne
- username : katelyntowne
- bio : Et est sequi natus. Molestiae cum rerum et dolore quibusdam possimus.
- followers : 4779
- following : 1420
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/katelyn.towne
- username : katelyn.towne
- bio : Et neque ducimus aut ea sint consequatur ut. Nulla deleniti pariatur quia totam quo qui.
- followers : 1867
- following : 771
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@katelyn4532
- username : katelyn4532
- bio : Vel eum quo aut fuga. Laborum quo cupiditate quasi minus quaerat illo.
- followers : 1310
- following : 2259
