Casting announced for Hunger Games prequel: Meet young Haymitch and Lenore

The Hunger Games prequel, titled Sunrise on the Reaping, is moving forward with exciting developments. The film has officially cast Joseph Zada as the younger version of Haymitch Abernathy, a character famously portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original series. Zada is known for his roles in the upcoming Prime Video series We Were Liars and the Netflix limited series East of Eden.

Additionally, Whitney Peak has been cast as Haymitch's girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Peak's previous credits include Hocus Pocus 2, the Gossip Girl reboot, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She also serves as a global ambassador for Chanel.

Erin Westerman, co-president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, expressed enthusiasm about the casting, noting the emotional depth both actors brought to their roles. She emphasized the significance of Haymitch's origin story and his relationship with Lenore in the broader narrative of Panem.

Sunrise on the Reaping is set for release on November 20, 2026, and is based on Suzanne Collins' fifth Hunger Games novel, which was published last month and quickly became a bestseller, selling 1.5 million copies in its first week.

The story is set during the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, occurring 24 years before Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers as tribute. It will focus on a 16-year-old Haymitch as tributes are chosen for the brutal competition.

The previous prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, was a box office success, grossing over $348 million worldwide, indicating strong interest in the franchise's expansion.