The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has found its stars. Joseph Zada will play Haymitch Abernathy, with Whitney Peak playing Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. The prequel story is focused on fan favorite Haymitch, who later acted as a mentor in the Hunger Games to heroine Katniss Everdeen. (Woody Harrelson played Haymitch in the original Hunger Games films.)
Francis Lawrence is back in the director’s chair for the film, while screenwriter Bill Ray is back to pen the story. The bestselling book of the same name (1.2 million copies sold in the U.S. during the first week of release) takes place in 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, when Haymitch competes.
For the morbidly curious, Rachel Zegler confirmed in an interview that although she would love to reprise her role as Lucy Gray Baird, she is not included in the new film. The timeline gap between the two stories makes it unlikely for Lucy Gray to appear, though there is speculation that archival footage or references might be used.
The film is being produced by Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson with Cameron MacConomy serving as executive producer. Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is slated for a Nov. 20, 2026 release.
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Karina Smitt
I'm not as much of a "CoMiCs NeEd MoAr DiVeRsItY & iNcLuSiOn" advocate as my girlfriend often is, but we both love funny books, crispy bacon, straight bourbon and hip hop. Add yet, we never vote the same, so we cancel each other out... and that works perfectly in my book!
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