Breaking News: Casting Deals Announced for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, Lionsgate has confirmed that Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak have been cast in key roles for the highly anticipated film, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. According to a report from Deadline, a leading source for entertainment news, Zada will play the role of Haymitch Abernathy, a Tribute from District 12, while Peak will take on the role of Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s girlfriend.
This latest development has been making waves in Hollywood, with fans of the franchise eagerly anticipating the new film. As Deadline reports, Haymitch is a character who was previously played by Woody Harrelson in the original Hunger Games series. The new film, which is set 24 years before the events of the original trilogy, will explore the backstory of this beloved character. In an exclusive interview with Deadline, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erin Westerman praised the casting choices, saying: "The Hunger Games franchise has long been a launching pad for remarkable young actors, and Jo and Whitney carry that legacy forward with incredible heart, depth, and fire."
The casting process for the film was reportedly exhaustive, with hundreds of gifted performers auditioning for the roles. Deadline quotes producer Nina Jacobson of Color Force as saying: "Deb Zane and Dylan Jury oversaw an exhaustive (and exhausting!) search to find a young actor with the skill and imagination to embody young Haymitch. Jo prepared like crazy and stole our hearts. Then Whitney took our breath away as Lenore Dove. When we put the two of them together, it was one of those magical casting moments when you know your search has led you home."
As Deadline notes, the film is based on the bestselling dystopian YA novel by Suzanne Collins, published on March 18. The story takes place on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. The plot centers on 16-year-old Haymitch, a clever and resourceful boy from District 12, who is unexpectedly chosen for this edition of the games. The film will feature a deadly twist, with twice the number of tributes, and 48 children sent into the arena to battle for their lives.
According to Deadline, Francis Lawrence will direct the movie from a script by Billy Ray, with Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson producing. The film is slated for release on November 20, 2026, and comes on the heels of five installments in the franchise that have grossed more than $3.3 billion worldwide.
Further details on the cast and crew have been revealed, with Deadline reporting that Joseph Zada is currently playing the lead role of Charlie in the Stan Australia Original Series Invisible Boys. He will next be seen starring in Prime Video’s series We Were Liars, which premieres in June. Whitney Peak, best known for starring in Max’s Gossip Girl reboot and Hocus Pocus 2, will next be seen as the lead in Sony’s upcoming shark thriller Shiver, opposite Phoebe Dynevor.
As reported by Deadline, the casting of Zada and Peak has been met with excitement from fans of the franchise, who are eagerly anticipating the new film. With a talented cast and crew on board, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated releases of 2026. As Deadline notes, this latest development is sure to send shockwaves through the entertainment industry, and fans of the franchise will be eagerly watching to see how the story unfolds.
