Who Plays Young Haymitch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping?

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The highly anticipated first trailer for the new Hunger Games movie is here, offering a glimpse at the 50th Hunger Games and a young Haymitch Abernathy. Based on Suzanne Collins’s book, Sunrise on the Reaping will be released in theaters on November 20, 2026. Though the trailer doesn’t reveal much of the plot, fans can expect another emotionally gripping story when the film comes out next year.

“Sunrise on the Reaping” is a prequel to the “Hunger Games” films, set 24 years before the original story. It focuses on a young Haymitch Abernathy and his experience in the Second Quarter Quell. While Woody Harrelson famously played Haymitch, revealing glimpses of a troubled past, this new story delves deeper into his origins. The film will show Haymitch’s early life, and a new actor will portray him as a teenager. This story aims to reveal all of Haymitch’s secrets and show how he became the character we know in “The Hunger Games.”

Who Plays Young Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping?

The new prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, features twenty-year-old Australian actor Tom Blyth as the central figure in its first trailer. The trailer highlights the events leading up to the 50th Hunger Games, and includes glimpses into Haymitch Abernathy’s youth in District 12—specifically, scenes of him with his girlfriend, Lenore Dove, before he was chosen to fight in the deadly Games.

The initial trailer for Sunrise on the Reaping includes glimpses into Haymitch Abernathy’s experiences in the Hunger Games, showing him grieving a fallen ally and battling other tributes as forced by the Capitol. Actor Tom Blyth appears to have several action-packed scenes, especially during the chaotic opening fight at the Cornucopia. The film promises a lot of action and emotional depth, giving audiences a chance to see Blyth’s acting skills when Sunrise on the Reaping is released next November.

Who Is Joseph Zada? Background, Career, and Previous Roles

Joseph Zada is a rising actor in Hollywood. Born Joseph Cumpston to director Jeremy Cumpston and producer Jessica Brentnall, he started his film career in 2019 with a role in his father’s movie, Bilched. He followed that with a part in 2023’s The Speedway Murders. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping marks just the third film role of his career.

Joseph Zada may not have a lot of film experience, but he’s well-known on television. He first starred in the 2025 Australian miniseries The Invisible Boys, and gained wider recognition in the thriller We Were Liars. In that series, he played Johnny Sinclair Dennis, showcasing his impressive range by portraying a lively and quick-tempered character – skills that will likely be valuable when he plays a younger version of Haymitch Abernathy in Sunrise on the Reaping, where he’s also set to return for a second season. Based on his work so far, Zada appears to be an excellent fit for the role of young Haymitch in the new Hunger Games prequel.

How Young Haymitch Fits Into the Story of Sunrise on the Reaping

The original Hunger Games films followed Katniss Everdeen’s transformation from competitor to victor and ultimately, a rebel. However, Sunrise on the Reaping tells the story of her mentor, Haymitch Abernathy. While previous films and books only offered glimpses into Haymitch’s past, Catching Fire showed Katniss and Peeta a recording of his Games, revealing the terrible experiences he endured. Sunrise on the Reaping expands on this history, suggesting there’s more to Haymitch’s story than what the recordings reveal.

He’s changed quite a bit since we first met him. The original story hinted at a good heart beneath his grumpy exterior, but this prequel shows us exactly what experiences shaped Haymitch into the person he was when he mentored Katniss and Peeta. By the end, we see him as a much more heartbreaking character. Importantly, the prequel also highlights the surprising similarities between Haymitch and Katniss, which deepens our understanding of their connection in the original story.

The newest Hunger Games installment isn’t just a backstory for Haymitch. Sunrise on the Reaping actually lays the groundwork for many of the things that happen in the original series. It also shares similar themes with Catching Fire, which becomes apparent as you read it. While the 2023 film The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes can be seen as a prequel to The Hunger Games, Sunrise on the Reaping feels more like a prequel to Catching Fire.

Full Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Cast List (Confirmed So Far)

Joseph Zada stars in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping alongside a talented group of both rising stars and established actors. McKenna Grace (known from recent films like Regretting You), Ben Wang (who will appear in the 2025 films Karate Kid: Legends and The Long Walk), and Molly McCann (featured in the 2023 film Freelance with John Cena and Alison Brie) will play the District 12 tributes alongside Haymitch.

Beyond Haymitch Abernathy, the new movie Sunrise on the Reaping features younger versions of familiar faces from The Hunger Games. Elle Fanning will play a young Effie Trinket, taking over the role from Elizabeth Banks. Kieran Culkin will portray Caesar Flickerman, with Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan, and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee rounding out the returning characters.

I’m so excited for Sunrise on the Reaping! They’re adding a lot of new faces, and I can’t wait to see them. Whitney Peak is playing Lenore Dove Baird, and I was thrilled to see Glenn Close in the trailer as Drusilla Sickle – she’s Effie Trinket’s predecessor from District 12! Iris Apatow is playing Proserpina, and Billy Porter and Jefferson White are joining the cast as Magno Stift and Mr. McCoy, respectively. Plus, Kara Tointon will be playing Haymitch’s mother, Willamae Abernathy, which should be really interesting!

Recent trailers suggest some of the original actors from the Hunger Games films might appear in Sunrise on the Reaping. A clip of Woody Harrelson’s voice at the end of one trailer hints that these new Hunger Games could be unique. While the audio comes from Catching Fire, there’s speculation that Harrelson will reprise his role as Haymitch Abernathy in a future scene, possibly showing an older version of the character.

Featuring a talented cast and a moving story, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping looks like it will be a fantastic addition to the series. As the movie’s release is just a year away, fans can anticipate more details and updates soon.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will open in theaters on November 20, 2026.

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2025-11-20 19:09