The next chapter in The Hunger Games saga has officially found its stars.
Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak have been cast as the leads in Lionsgate’s highly anticipated prequel The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Zada will play a young Haymitch Abernathy—the character originally portrayed by Woody Harrelson—while Peak takes on the role of Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s girlfriend.
The casting follows weeks of buzz around who would land these sought-after roles. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erin Westerman praised the pair’s emotional depth and presence, saying, “Jo and Whitney carry the legacy of this franchise forward with incredible heart, depth, and fire.”
Producer Nina Jacobson echoed that sentiment, recalling the “magical casting moment” when the two actors were brought together. “Jo prepared like crazy and stole our hearts,” she said. “Then Whitney took our breath away as Lenore Dove.”
Based on Suzanne Collins’ newest novel, released March 18, Sunrise on the Reaping revisits Panem 24 years before Katniss Everdeen’s story. Set during the 50th Hunger Games—also known as the Second Quarter Quell—the prequel follows 16-year-old Haymitch, who is chosen as a tribute from District 12. This particular reaping is twice as brutal, forcing 48 tributes into the arena.
Francis Lawrence, who directed four previous Hunger Games films, is set to return as director. The script comes from screenwriter Billy Ray, with producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson returning via Color Force. The film is scheduled to premiere on November 20, 2026.
Zada, currently leading Stan Australia’s Invisible Boys, will also appear in Prime Video’s We Were Liars this summer and Netflix’s East of Eden alongside Florence Pugh. Peak, best known for Gossip Girl and Hocus Pocus 2, will soon be seen in Sony’s shark thriller Shiver and Amazon MGM’s 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank.
With a new generation of talent stepping into the spotlight, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is shaping up to be one of the most exciting entries in the franchise yet.
Source: Deadline
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