Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’s Maysilee Donner Deep Cut Explained

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Although the movie isn’t out for another year, the first look at footage from Sunrise on the Reaping has fans eagerly anticipating the new Hunger Games prequel. The film tells the story of Haymitch Abernathy’s time in the Games, a backstory fans have been wanting to see for a long time. The recently released teaser trailer has generated a lot of excitement, and even includes a hidden detail for dedicated viewers.

Although The Hunger Games series wasn’t initially known for referencing itself, the newer prequel books have started to connect back to the original story. Some connections are clear, like the reveal in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, while others are more understated. A recent Easter egg in the trailer for Sunrise on the Reaping is particularly interesting because it doesn’t come from the books or the Lionsgate films – it actually originates from a well-known fan-made Hunger Games movie.

The Hunger Games Fandom Has a Long History of Fan Films

Similar to other beloved series, The Hunger Games has motivated fans to produce their own creative works, including fan-made films. MainstayPro is known for some of the most popular of these, and you can find their films on their YouTube channel. They’ve created a short film focusing on Katniss and her father, a miniseries about Finnick and Annie’s story, and another short film detailing the events of Sunrise on the Reaping.

“The Hunger Games: The Second Quarter Quell” centers around the events in the arena, particularly focusing on Haymitch’s experiences. Viewers and critics alike appreciated the film’s excellent production quality and how closely it followed the book. The movie also introduced Maysilee Donner, Haymitch’s district ally, portrayed by Stefania Barr, for the first time on screen.

I first learned about Maysilee when I was reading Catching Fire – it was during the part where Katniss and Peeta were watching old footage of Haymitch’s Games. For years, fans like me really built her up as this legendary figure, the original owner of Katniss’s iconic mockingjay pin. But honestly, because the movie skipped over those scenes, the version of Maysilee played by Barr is all most of us have seen for over a decade – she is Maysilee for a lot of people.

The new movie, Sunrise on the Reaping, features Mckenna Grace as Maysilee, and fans have noticed a connection to the previous portrayal of the character. Viewers of the earlier film quickly pointed out that Grace’s Maysilee shares a similar look, specifically in their hairstyles – both have bangs, wear their hair down, and feature a small braid on the side.

Since the books only mention Maysilee having blond hair, this seems like a knowing nod to the popular fan film. It’s a good sign for the upcoming Sunrise on the Reaper adaptation, which has already made a clear effort to please Hunger Games fans.

Sunrise on the Reaping Pays Tribute to Hunger Games Fans

The Hunger Games films have always aimed to please book fans, but Sunrise on the Reaping appears to be taking that even further. Fans on social media actually helped cast some of the movie’s actors, like Grace as Maysilee and Maya Hawke as Wiress.

The movie’s casting team encouraged fans to submit audition videos on TikTok, leading to a flood of entries – some serious, some just for fun, all aimed at promoting the film. Ultimately, they selected fan Devon Singletary to play Blair, a friend of Haymitch from District 12.

The filmmakers clearly understand the Hunger Games fanbase, as evidenced by their reference to “The Second Quarter Quell” and its character, Maysilee. This is particularly encouraging for the upcoming Sunrise on the Reaping movie, which relies more on the original books than The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The team working on the adaptation seems aware of fans’ high hopes and is already exceeding them.

Fans first learned about Maysilee’s story in Catching Fire and quickly connected with her. The recent book, Sunrise on the Reaping, gave even more depth to her character, and now, with Grace’s portrayal honoring the original version, audiences are eager to fall in love with Maysilee all over again.

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2025-11-21 17:37