Long after the first movie was released, the franchise is nowhere close to ending. After the success of the prequel book and movie, , which highlights President Snow's young years and stars Tom Blyth and the controversial Snow White actress Rachel Zegler, the well-known fantasy author kept the dystopian story alive with yet another prequel. In mid-March, Collins published, which instantly drew fans in.

Sunrise on the Reaping will come to theaters in November 2026. Lionsgate has brought some old and new faces on board, as Francis Lawrence returns to the franchise as the director and will be joined by producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson. This new prequel will take place many years before Katniss Everdeen was even born and focus on the 50th Hunger Games, where 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy was drawn as a tribute. So, let’s take a closer look at the cast and characters in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

is certainly the most important character in the new Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping. Known by fans as Peeta and Katniss' cynical and often stubborn mentor, who likes to have one too many drinks, comes across as careless, but has a soft heart after all, Haymitch will be seen from a whole new perspective in the upcoming movie. The prequel follows the 50th Hunger Games, where teenager Haymitch is fighting for his survival while also protecting his loved ones. It's an eclectic role that certainly requires a talented actor.

Australian actor will join the cast of the Hunger Games prequel as the main character, and, looking at his previous roles, it is the best news ever. While Zada is comparatively new in the industry and has only appeared in two movies, played a small role in an Australian series, and the lead role in the drama TV series Invisible Boys, he is still a great choice. The most refreshing aspect of casting Zada is that he is only four years older than the 16-year-old Hunger Games character he will portray, which seems somewhat rare in times of adults playing teens, like in Overcompensating.

What is more interesting than seeing Haymitch in his Hunger Games? Seeing Haymitch with his love interest, . In the original movies, the mentor radiates a deep sadness and has lost many people in his life. The fact that his beloved Lenore wasn't around makes the introduction of her character in Sunrise on the Reaping all the more thrilling. Lenore is not only Haymitch's girlfriend in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, but she is also a Covey member, which is a group of traveling musicians in District 12.

was chosen to bring this special Sunrise on the Reaping character to life on screen. It remains to be seen if she will be able to capture the same whimsical Covey spirit that captivated fans through Rachel Zegler's impressive performance. Considering that she is talented on all fronts, though, it is arguably safe to get excited already.

Thrown into the same deadly chaos as Haymitch is is another tribute from District 12 in the 50th Hunger Games. Maysilee was known as a rich girl and a mean bully to many, including Haymitch, but it turns out that she is a great ally and becomes increasingly important to Haymitch. Their bond makes her an important character in the prequel, and they found their perfect match to portray the role of Maysilee.

will portray Maysilee Donner in Sunrise on the Reaping, and they couldn't have made a better choice. Grace carries the fierceness and kindness needed to properly capture the character's arc from stuck-up girl to true friend and ally. Just like Zada, Grace, who is known for her role in the drama movie Gifted with Chris Evans and the Ghostbusters movies, together with Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard, is almost the same age as her on-screen character, which supports the notion of avoiding the annoying Hollywood issue.

Of course, the first character that comes to mind when thinking of Haymitch in the original Hunger Games movies is the ever-so-glamorous and intriguingly expressive . As Haymitch's future mentor colleague, her younger years will be interesting to see. Effie was first introduced as a caring mentor. The horror the tributes had to go through shocked her, but the Capitol's propaganda still clouded her judgment. Her younger self will, therefore, likely be even more naive, following the rules and supporting the Games to keep the peace.

None other than the Maleficent and A Complete Unknown star, , was chosen to portray the one and only Effie. Fans are undoubtedly excited about this one, since there was a continuous plea to cast Elle Fanning as the iconic Effie Trinket ever since the book was released. There is no doubt that she will be able to effortlessly capture the character's unique behavior and extravagance.

Another iconic character that will also play a significant role in the new Hunger Games prequel is the one and only . In Catching Fire, Heavensbee gained President Snow's trust as the unscrupulous Head Gamemaker, but in reality, he was a secret rebel-insider and commander of the District 13 forces. In Sunrise on the Reaping, Heavensbee will be much younger, of course, which will offer insights into how he became close to Snow and gained power to support the rebel cause.

shares so many features with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman that there wouldn't have been a better actor to portray the iconic role of Plutarch Heavensbee. It's even more of a perfect match considering that Plemons played Hoffman's son in the psychological thriller The Master. The special bond they shared will hopefully bring back the unique essence of the character, but the Oscar-nominated actor, who is also known for his role in one of the best Netflix series of all time, Breaking Bad, will add his charisma as well.

In Sunrise on the Reaping, is introduced as one of Haymitch's mentors. She won the Games the year before Haymitch by using her intelligence against the tributes and the Gamemakers. Wiress only appeared for a rather short time in Catching Fire, but she left quite the impression, since she is the one who saved Peeta's life and died in his stead. She was predominantly unresponsive and mentally confused, and fans didn't get much information about her, making her role in this prequel even more exciting.

The Sunrise on the Reaping cast just keeps getting better and better, because the wonderful Maya Hawke was announced to play Wiress. Known for her iconic role as Robin Buckley in Stranger Things, she will now tackle a whole different character in the Hunger Games franchise. This time around, Wiress will be seen in a whole new light before the Capitol tortured her for taking part in an uprising.

Winner of the 34th Hunger Games, , is no stranger to fans of the franchise, even though he was one of the most unappreciated characters in the Hunger Games movies. The genius played a central role in Catching Fire, as he helped put an end to the deadly Games and get Katniss out alive. It is already clear that Beetee is extremely smart, which makes him equally dangerous, but the Sunrise on the Reaping novel reveals even more facts about him. Insights into his family and previous involvement in the rebellion explain his future actions and will to fight against the Capitol.

is the actor who was chosen to portray the beloved role of Beetee. He certainly has the needed talent and skills, seeing that Harrison has been in the industry for well over 10 years and appeared in noteworthy movies such as the musical biography Elvis or the coming-of-age romance movie Waves.

is remembered as one of the sweetest characters in Catching Fire. She was the oldest tribute in the 75th Hunger Games, which solely consisted of previous winners, and, as a mentor and maternal figure, she had a strong bond with Finnick. He cared for her like a mother, trying to keep her safe as long as possible. Mags won the 11th Hunger Games for District 4, and since there were no living victors in District 12 before Haymitch's Games, she stepped in as his mentor. Knowing how kind she was as an old lady, it will surely be equally heartwarming (and heartbreaking) to see how she helps out Haymitch fight for his survival.

While the older Mags was nonverbal and already in a frail mental state, Mags in Sunrise on the Reaping will be quite the opposite. The highly energetic character will be played by , who gained significant recognition due to her appearances in movies such as the paranormal horror movie The Conjuring and the 1993 biography I Shot Andy Warhol.

is a new character introduced in Sunrise on the Reaping. As one of the four tributes of District 12, he is also sent to fight others to the death in the vile Games. Wyatt is known for being a great mathematician who worked closely with his father to calculate the chances of survival for each tribute. Haymitch doesn't support this undertaking at all, which is the perfect ground for a tumultuous connection in the beginning. That is, until he starts to recognize the good sides in Wyatt.

, the actor cast to portray Wyatt, has been quite busy with his acting career. He will be seen in the highly anticipated Karate Kid: Legend movie, and the American Born Chinese actor was also a part of the teen comedy remake, Mean Girls. Wang has had some practice, so portraying the slightly awkward, yet highly intelligent Wyatt shouldn't be a problem at all.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes left in an unhinged position. Picking up several years later, Sunrise on the Reaping will have a more recognizable version of Snow. It will be interesting to see how unscrupulous he is during the 50th Hunger Games, compared to his time as a first-time mentor to Lucy Gray and the complete maniac he became during Katniss' time.

Legends say that if someone mentions the role of a ruthless dictator waiting to be filled with the perfect actor, is conjured in an instant. Fiennes has played the iconic Voldemort in Harry Potter, the epic war drama Schindler's List, and the Oscar-winning political thriller Conclave. After the insane transformation young Coriolanus Snow went through in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, there is no better actor than Fiennes to add his touch to such a versatile character like Snow.

What is a Hunger Games movie without a Flickerman to host the games? is a unique showman who conducts all the interviews with the tributes before they head out to fight each other to the death. In Sunrise on the Reaping, Caesar is already in a similar position to when he later becomes the Capitol's most loved entertainer. Even though he is a few years younger, Flickerman will already exhibit a similar eccentric nature and show up in flamboyant outfits.

Kieran Culkin will portray the fan-favorite character in the new Hunger Games prequel. There is arguably no one else who would be a better fit for the role than the Succession star. The actor is under quite some pressure now, though. He even asked fans to lower their expectations because Stanley Tucci gave such a memorable performance, and it is almost impossible to top that.

and are two new characters introduced in the Sunrise on the Reaping novel. Louella is the female tribute from District 12, who was randomly chosen to enter the Games together with Haymitch. Seeing that she is a bit younger (and Haymitch's neighbor), he feels the need to protect her and ensure her survival. However, under unexpected circumstances, a brainwashed body double, Lou Lou, is introduced by the Capitol.

will portray Haymitch's sweet childhood friend, Louella. McCann is only a teenager, but she has already appeared in numerous projects and made a name for herself in the industry. She played the younger version of Dakota Fanning's character in the drama movie Sweetness in the Belly, and her extraordinary performance in the gripping drama Herself earned her a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Irish Film and Television Awards.

will play Lou Lou, the body double who turns out to be an innocent girl from District 11. Since she was tortured to insanity, Lou Lou is far from an easy role. Despite her little experience, Bell is set on taking on the challenge and will surely deliver a captivating performance. The Hunger Games movies are available to stream on Prime Video.