The new film, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, is releasing on November 20th, 2026. Lionsgate, North America’s largest and most successful mini-major film studio, will create an adaptation of the newly published book. Francis Lawrence, an American filmmaker and producer, will direct the movie from a script written by Billy Ray, an American screenwriter.
Sunrise on the Reaping takes place 40 years after the events of the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and 24 years before Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark’s time in the arena. This book is told from the perspective of Haymitch, mentor of District 12 in the original Hunger Games. It revolves around his participation in the 50th Hunger Games and his transformation into the drunkard we saw in the original Hunger Games. This book follows Haymitch’s life in District 12, his time in the arena, and the immediate aftermath.
The film chose its two main characters: 20-year-old Joseph Zada to play 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, the main character of the book Sunrise of the Reaping, and Ugandan-Canadian actress Whitney Peak to play the role of Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Zada and Peak had been busy before joining the production of this movie, with both actors having acted in numerous successful features. They are two of the most sought-after young actors in recent memory, as producer Nina Jacobson of Color Force said, “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. [Joseph] 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.”
In the Sunrise of the Reaping, Lenore Dove Baird is the girlfriend that Haymitch brought up briefly in Catching Fire to Peeta and Katniss. Lenore Dove is part of Covey, but she is also a Baird, as she is related to Maude Ivory, Lucy Grey’s little cousin. Lenore Dove was a rebel from a young age. She was arrested multiple times for singing songs that “inspired rebellion”; her uncles were able to convince the peacekeepers to let her go numerous times, and she was never held for more than a day. Of course, she committed many other crimes, but they were never tied back to her as the peacekeepers never had proof that she was the one who did it. Lenore Dove’s mother died in childbirth, so she was raised by her uncles, Clerk Carmine Clade and Tam Amber. She was also a distant cousin of Burodck Everdeen, better known as Katniss Everdeen. Lenore Dove gave Haymitch his token for the Hunger Games: a flint sticker carved into a lion and a snake tangled together. Haymitch later uses his token to win the Hunger Games and nearly take down the arena. Lenore Dove was not talked about much in the original series, and that just isn’t right, as she played a big role in Haymitch’s life before, during, and after his games.
Leonard Dove Baird’s actor, Whitney Peak, has a busy past. From starring in HBO Max’s Gossip Girl reboot when she was barely 18 years old, Peak has a great deal of acting experience. After contributing to the scenes of Hocus Pocus 2, Peak will act as the lead in shark thriller Shiver with Phoebe Dynevor. She’ll be starring in the upcoming American heist dark comedy film 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank with Liam Neeson and Teresa Palmer. Lots of people want the credit for creating such an upcoming star, but companies CAA, Canopy Media Partners, Play Management, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman represent her. The Ugandan-Canadian actress is primarily known for her part in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and is very excited to partake in the new Hunger Games movie along with her other projects.
“I think of Haymitch, unmarried, with no family, blotting out the world with a drink. He could have had his choice of any woman in the district. And he chose solitude. Not solitude— that sounds too peaceful. More like solitary confinement.”-Katniss Everdeen.
When we are first introduced to Haymitch Abernathy, he falls headfirst into the reaping stage after Katniss volunteers. Throughout the first and the second Hunger Games books, Haymitch is the person keeping Katniss and Peeta alive. He is a big part of the second rebellion and helped organize many rebels. In the Sunrise on the Reaping, we find out that Haymitch lives with his mother and younger brother in the Seam; his father died in a mining accident years before the book’s timeframe. Haymitch was unfairly reaped on his 16th birthday. Haymitch was the only victor from District 12 for 24 years, he should get more credit for how he aided the rebellion and kept his tributes alive.
Joseph Zard, actor for Haymitch, has a busy time in front of him! Along with starring in the newest Hunger Games, he’s currently playing the lead role of Charlie in the series Invisible Boys. Zada will also be seen acting in the Prime Video series We Were Liars, alongside star Emily Alyn Sinclair. A lot of companies sponsor him and track his progress, but some notable ones include: CAA, Untitled Entertainment, RGM, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman. Nina Jacobson, who’s produced all Hunger Games films, spoke to Variety on the eve of the book’s release about the franchise’s continued success and opened up about the search to cast a young Haymitch, portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original four films. “Nobody can be Woody Harrelson but Woody Harrelson,” she said. “But you have to find that mischief that he has in him inherently and try to understand, if you turn back time from the man you meet at the beginning of “The Hunger Games,” who he was before all of that, and why he became that.”
“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. 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,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erin Westerman said. “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 Panem’s emotional history. We can’t wait for fans to experience the story that shaped one of the most compelling characters in the series.”
18-year-old American actress and singer, McKenna Grace, plays Maysilee Donner, Haymitch’s fellow District 12 tribute and a key figure in the Second Quarter Quell. As one of the main characters in the Disney sitcoms she was a part of during her childhood, Grace has made a big name for herself, starring in numerous network soap operas. Growing up, Grace performed in memorable projects like The Haunting of Hill House, Captain Marvel, and Annabelle Comes Home. Her unforgettable acting as Esther Keyes on The Handmaid’s Tale earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination.
Jesse Plemons was cast as Plutarch Heavensbee, the Head Gamemaker and commander of the rebel forces of District 13 in the 2nd book of the trilogy, Catching Fire. The new movie explores the perspective of a young Plutarch, who is witnessing the reaping in District 12. Jesse Plemons, a 37-year-old American actor, made a headline in the movie industry by working with Martin Scorsese in The Irishman, Killers of the Flower Moon, Steven Spielberg in The Post, and more. He was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and three Primetime Emmys. Plutarch was portrayed in the films by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman
Erin Westerman, co-president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said, “Jesse is one of the most talented actors of his generation, with a proven record of picking his roles selectively. We are honored that he has chosen to bring his own take to one of the most fascinating figures in Panem and feel that his previous collaboration with Philip Seymour Hoffman makes it all the more special. His Plutarch will be both a tribute to the character fans have already come to know and a portrayal he makes his own.”
After lots of positive media from fans, after the casting decisions were released, the production for this movie has been moving very swiftly, as they are set to release on November 20th, 2026. The book Sunrise on the Reaping is highly rated, and the whole world will be waiting to see if the movie can live up to the legendary book.
Sources:
- https://deadline.com/2025/04/the-hunger-games-sunrise-on-the-reaping-joseph-zada-whitney-peak-1236375468/
- https://ew.com/sunrise-on-the-reaping-cast-and-character-guide-11721537
- https://variety.com/2025/film/news/hunger-games-sunrise-on-the-reaping-joseph-zada-whitney-peak-1236376573/
