Cover ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’ cast in London: Francis Lawrence, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Whitney Peak, Joseph Zada, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes and Nina Jacobson (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’ cast in London: Francis Lawrence, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Whitney Peak, Joseph Zada, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes and Nina Jacobson (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
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Discover who stars in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ cast and character guide, from tributes to Capitol icons
Lionsgate returns to the world of Panem with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s dystopian series, directed by Francis Lawrence. Based on Collins’s novel, the film revisits the Second Quarter Quell, the 50th Hunger Games, in which the Capitol forces each district to send twice its usual number of tributes into the arena, bringing the total to 48. At the centre of the story is a young Haymitch Abernathy, long before he becomes the cynical mentor audiences meet in the original films.
Set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteers as District 12’s tribute, the prequel explores Haymitch’s experience in the arena and the events that shape his life, while offering a closer look at Panem’s political climate and the Capitol’s grip on its districts. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping also brings together a mix of rising stars, established actors and familiar faces from the franchise.
Read more: A look at McKenna Grace’s ‘The Hunger Games’ press tour style
Overview of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ cast and characters
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping adapts the 50th Hunger Games, focusing on young Haymitch Abernathy and the individuals involved in the Second Quarter Quell. Below is the full guide to the confirmed cast and the characters they portray across District 12, the mentor lineup, the Capitol and the framing sequences.
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District 12 Tributes
Joseph Zada: Haymitch Abernathy
Joseph Zada takes on the central role of Haymitch Abernathy, portraying the sixteen-year-old victor who leverages the arena’s physical boundaries to survive. Woody Harrelson returns in framing sequences as the older version of the character.
Mckenna Grace: Maysilee Donner and Merrilee Donner
Mckenna Grace appears in a dual capacity, playing District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner alongside her twin sister Merrilee Donner. Maysilee is recognised within franchise lore as the original owner of the golden mockingjay pin.
Ben Wang: Wyatt Callow
Ben Wang portrays Wyatt Callow, an additional District 12 tribute representing the local Booker Boys family known for coordinating wagers.
Molly McCann: Louella McCoy
Molly McCann plays Louella McCoy, a youth reaped alongside the other district contenders.
Iona Bell: Lou Lou
Iona Bell acts as Lou Lou, an individual selected by Capitol organisers to replace McCoy following the public tribute parade.
Mentors and Victors
Because District 12 possessed no living champions to oversee its contenders, victors from neighbouring sectors were assigned to advise the group.
Maya Hawke: Wiress
Maya Hawke plays Wiress, the eccentric victor of the forty-ninth games representing District 3 who is selected to guide the incoming squad.
Lili Taylor: Mags Flanagan
Lili Taylor portrays Mags Flanagan, the District 4 victor from the eleventh games acting as an empathetic fellow adviser.
Kelvin Harrison Jr: Beetee Latier
Kelvin Harrison Jr. appears as District 3 victor Beetee Latier, who manages advisory tasks while his son,Ampert Latier, played by Percy Daggs IV, is drawn as an active tribute in the Quell.
Capitol Figures
Ralph Fiennes: President Coriolanus Snow
Ralph Fiennes portrays President Coriolanus Snow, depicting the authoritarian ruler during the middle era of his governance over Panem.
Jesse Plemons: Plutarch Heavensbee
Jesse Plemons appears as Plutarch Heavensbee, who works as a broadcast cameraman documenting the proceedings long before becoming Head Gamemaker.
Kieran Culkin: Caesar Flickerman
Kieran Culkin assumes the role of Caesar Flickerman, conducting broadcast interviews with the forty-eight tributes before their entry into the arena.
Elle Fanning: Effie Trinket
Elle Fanning plays Effie Trinket, shown during her early tenure within the Capitol styling establishment.
Iris Apatow: Proserpina Trinket
Iris Apatow appears as Proserpina Trinket, Effie’s younger sibling working on the prep staff.
Glenn Close: Drusilla Sickle
Glenn Close portrays Drusilla Sickle, an elite official functioning as the chaperone for District 12.
Billy Porter: Magno Stift
Billy Porter plays Magno Stift, an expressive designer assigned to the styling crew for the District 12 team.
District 12 Citizens and Franchise Cameos
Whitney Peak: Lenore Dove Baird
Whitney Peak plays Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s partner in District 12 and a member of the Covey musical group.
Scot Greenan: Burdock Everdeen
Scot Greenan appears as Burdock Everdeen, Haymitch’s companion, Covey relative and the future father of Katniss Everdeen.
Kara Tointon and Smylie Bradwell: Willamae Abernathy and Sid Abernathy
Kara Tointon portrays Willamae Abernathy, while Smylie Bradwell plays her younger son, Sid Abernathy.
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson reprise their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, appearing in bookend sequences designed to frame the historical scope of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’.
When is ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ coming out?
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled to arrive in cinemas starting 18 November 2026 in Asia, following its initial world premiere events earlier that autumn. Lionsgate strategically positioned the theatrical debut just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday corridor, repeating the successful late-November release strategy previously used for Catching Fire, Mockingjay and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
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