On June 6th, 2024, Susan Collins, author of the The Hunger Games book series, announced her newest edition to the franchise, Sunrise on the Reaping, a story that would follow Haymitch Abernathey through the 50th anniversary of the Hunger Games. The book was published on March 18th, 2025, and had an extremely positive reaction from fans and new readers alike. When the novel was first announced, Collins also stated that there would be a movie soon to follow, which is scheduled to be released on November 20th, 2026. Just as they did with Collins’ earlier release, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, many fans began to make guesses and wishlists for who would be cast in this film.
The Hunger Games films have performed extremely well in the theaters, and portray the emotions and stories of the books extremely well, in my opinion. From the acting of Jennifer Lawrence in the first four films, and the musical talent of Rachel Zegler in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is very impressive and communicates the stories from the books well. With high standards already set for the Sunrise on the Reaping movie, all eyes are watching to see who will be casted as the leads of this show. Announced already is Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee.
Joseph Zada, playing Haymitch Abernathy, is 20 years old and from Sydney Australia, and has been acting for nearly 14 years. Zada’s debut role was as Toby in the 2019 comedy-drama film Bliched. Since then, he has had a few television appearances; he starred as Charlie Roth in Invisible Boys which is a television drama set in rural Australia, and Total Control, where he played the character Daniel in three episodes. He also has roles in We Were Liars (2025) and East of Eden (2026), both TV series set to premier later this year and next. When it comes to him playing Haymithch Abernathy in Sunrise on the Reaping, I think that his experience with dramatic acting, as well as having great authenticity when it comes to the roles he fills, will make for a great retelling of the novel.
Whitney Peak, playing Lenore Dove Baird, is 21 years old and from Kampala, Uganda, though she grew up in Canada. Peak began acting professionally in 2017, and had her breakout role as Zoya Lott in the 2021 reboot of Gossip Girl. She has also had roles in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2019–2020) and Home Before Dark (2020). Peak’s performance in Hocus Pocus 2 (2022), where she starred as Becca, further established her presence in mainstream film. Her experience in both television and film, combined with her dynamic screen presence and emotional range, makes her a compelling choice to portray Lenore in this adaptation. With her ability to convey depth and complexity, she is expected to bring a strong and memorable interpretation to the role.
McKenna Grace, playing Maysilee Donner, is 18 years old and began acting at just six years old. She is widely known for her ability to portray younger versions of well-known characters in shows like The Haunting of Hill House, Captain Marvel, and I, Tonya. Grace gained further recognition for her leading role in Gifted (2017) and her performance as Phoebe in Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021). She has been nominated for multiple awards, including a Critics’ Choice Award and a Daytime Emmy. Her depth of experience, despite her young age, and her strong emotional expressiveness make her a fitting choice for the brave and tragic role of Maysilee.
Jesse Plemons, playing Plutarch Heavensbee, is 36 years old and from Dallas, Texas. He rose to prominence as Landry Clarke on Friday Night Lights and has since appeared in acclaimed films such as The Power of the Dog (2021), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), and Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), earning multiple award nominations including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Plemons is known for his ability to portray morally complex characters with subtlety and depth. With his extensive background in both television and film, his casting as Plutarch is expected to bring intelligence to the political strategist’s role.
Overall, I think this cast provides a wide range of expertise and ability, and will do an excellent job at portraying these characters in this upcoming film. Longtime fans and new readers alike should look forward to this incredible adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping, coming out November 20, 2026.
