Get to know the rising stars leading&nbsp;Sunrise on the Reaping, the newest chapter in&nbsp;The Hunger Games&nbsp;saga.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/tom-blyth-actor-hunger-games-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hunger Games&nbsp;franchise</a>&nbsp;is set to return&nbsp;with'&nbsp;Sunrise on the Reaping,' a prequel film slated for release on November 20, 2026. Based on Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel, the story delves into the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell. The narrative centers on a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, exploring his traumatic experiences that later shape his role as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/tags/jenniferlawrence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Katniss Everdeen's</a>&nbsp;mentor.&nbsp;
The excitement for the novel was already high, and anticipation for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/rachel-zegler-facts-things-to-know-west-side-story-actress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">film&rsquo;s casting</a>&nbsp;reached another level. Since the book&rsquo;s release, fans have eagerly waited to see who would bring the story to life&mdash;and the reveal didn&rsquo;t disappoint. Instead of leaning on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/tags/actors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">familiar A-listers</a>, the film spotlights a cast of rising talents, a refreshing move that's been widely praised online amid ongoing calls for Hollywood to invest in new faces.
With director Francis Lawrence returning to helm the project and screenwriter Billy Ray adapting the screenplay,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/tags/movie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/tags/movie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunrise on the Reaping&nbsp;movie</a>&nbsp;aims to offer a compelling addition to&nbsp;The Hunger Games&nbsp;universe. As anticipation builds,&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL&nbsp;provides an in-depth look at the new cast members and their journeys leading up to the film.

Meet Joseph Zada, the newest star of&nbsp;The Hunger Games&nbsp;franchise. Zada is set to play the iconic Haymitch Abernathy, the District 12 tribute who survives the 50th Hunger Games. In the original series, Haymitch (famously portrayed by Woody Harrelson) goes on to mentor Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark during the 74th Games.
Outside&nbsp;Sunrise on the Reaping, Zada&rsquo;s star is quickly rising&mdash;he&rsquo;ll soon appear in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/making-the-cut-amazon-prime-video-fashion-show-returns-summer-new-judges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon Prime&rsquo;s</a>&nbsp;We Were Liars, Stan&rsquo;s&nbsp;Invisible Boys, and Netflix&rsquo;s&nbsp;East of Eden&nbsp;alongside Florence Pugh and Mike Faist.

Whitney Peak will play Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch&rsquo;s girlfriend in&nbsp;Sunrise on the Reaping.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, and raised in Vancouver, Peak now resides full-time in New York. Best known for starring as Zoya Lott in Max&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/gossip-girl-reboot-hbo-max" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gossip Girl</a>&nbsp;reboot, Peak first broke out after landing the role at 17. She later appeared in&nbsp;Hocus Pocus 2&nbsp;alongside Bette Midler and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/sarah-jessica-parker-movies-tv-best-roles-hocus-pocus-sex-and-the-city" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sarah Jessica Parker.</a>

Mckenna Grace will take on the role of Maysilee Donner, one of District 12&rsquo;s tributes alongside Haymitch in&nbsp;Sunrise on the Reaping.
Grace is already a familiar face, known for&nbsp;Ghostbusters: Afterlife,&nbsp;Gifted, and her Emmy-nominated turn in&nbsp;The Handmaid&rsquo;s Tale. She&rsquo;s also set for a packed 2025, with roles in&nbsp;Regretting You,&nbsp;Five Nights at Freddy&rsquo;s 2, and&nbsp;Scream 7.

Jesse Plemons will play a young Plutarch Heavensbee, the future Head Gamemaker and key figure in the rebellion.
The role was originally portrayed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, with whom Plemons previously shared the screen in&nbsp;The Master. Besides the two having a connection, the resemblance is also quite uncanny.&nbsp;
Plemons, praised for roles in&nbsp;The Power of the Dog&nbsp;and&nbsp;Killers of the Flower Moon, is also married to actor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/kirsten-dunst-pregnant-photo-shoot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kirsten Dunst</a>.

Meet the Cast of the Newest Hunger Games Film, ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’

Recommended posts for you

Culture

Meet the Cast of the Newest Hunger Games Film, ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’

Hommes

How Men Should Style Short Shorts This Season, According to Runways

Fashion

Doechii Makes a Statement at the 2025 Met Gala in Louis Vuitton Logomania

Fashion

Jennie Makes Her Mark in a Chanel Tuxedo at the 2025 Met Gala

Hommes

Lewis Hamilton Chooses Wales Bonner for the 2025 Met Gala

Hommes

Colman Domingo Does An Impromptu, Yet Sharp Outfit Change at the 2025 Met Gala

Culture

Every Celebrity Spotted at the 2025 F1 Miami Grand Prix

Hommes

The Best Dressed Men at the 2025 Met Gala