For the jewelry line Stonehenge, Asian artist and illustrator Han Ji-won created a business in 2018 that follows a girl who longs to travel in space, much like her grandmother. The brief, beautiful animation caught the attention of Korean production company Climax Studios, who saw potential for a much bigger story about the human connections ]… ]
The first article on Den of Geek was Netflix’s Lost in Starlight: Korea Makes an Active Sci-Fi Romance for Individuals.
Last month Hunger Games social media accounts made surprising information when they announced there would be a new text and video in the line. The book was released on March 18, 2025, and within that time, it had sold 1.2 million copies in its first week in the United States, three times more than Mockingjay, which ended Collins ‘ first Hunger Games trilogy.  ,
When Peeta and Katniss ‘ coach, Haymitch Abernathy, are chosen to engage in the 50th Hunger Games, which means there will be twice as many homage as there will be in the celebration, Sunrise on the Receiving follows him and Haymitch Abernathy. The book tells the story of Haymitch’s living in District 12 and his revolt against the Capitol, which led him to become the hostile coach we know from the initial line.  ,
This is the second prologue Collins has released after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which followed a fresh Coriolanus Snow on his quest to becoming the ruthless leader in the initial series. The movie Song of Songbirds and Snakes grossed$ 349 million widespread, and Lionsgate and Collins are good anxious to recoup that success with a Sunrise on the Reaping video.  ,
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has been the franchise’s most successful film, with a gross of practically$ 845 million worldwide. Hunger Games hasn’t been able to recreate those figures since. However, the Sunrise on the Reaping film will follow a character that the audience already associates with ( as opposed to Coriolanus ), which may entice more reticent viewers to watch it. The news of Sunrise on the Gaining launch brought fresh life to the Hunger Games audience, with countless fans speculating about casting and production choices for the previously confirmed movie adaptation, which is set to launch in November 2026.  ,
The Sunrise on the Reaping movie starts production in July and reportedly has a budget of over$ 150 million, according to a Deadline report, which could make it the largest budget Hunger Games movie to date. Fans of the company have eagerly awaited the highly anticipated film version, and they won’t have to delay longer to get it. Here’s a look at some of the casting decisions so far and what the objectives are for the upcoming movie.  ,
Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy
Following the publication of the book, there were numerous lover castings involving well-known stars like Rudy Pankow from Outer Banks and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl. Otherwise the lead role went to business stranger Joseph Zada, who may provide a new view. Zada is an American artist who started out in a movie that his parents, Jeremy Cumpston, directed in 2019. He continued acting and has only been involved in four projects before his casting in Hunger Games, two movies ( Bilched and The Speedway Murders ), one small role in the Australian TV show Total Control, and a lead role in the currently airing Australian show, Invisible Boys. Zada’s second Hollywood movie position will be in the Sunrise on the Reaping film.  ,  ,  ,
It will be exciting to see what Zada brings to the psychological effects of his quest because Haymitch’s character suffers unimaginable loss and faces perilous situations in the market in Sunrise on the Receiving.  , Zada will also be starring in another expected book-adaptation, We Were Liars, which is set to launch in June. Note that Zada is really the suitable age to play a 16-year-old, which is different from both lover casting and a franchise that originally cast actors across 25 as teenagers.
Mckenna Grace portrays Maysilee Donner
Maysilee is a brutal but lovable figure, which is not uncommon surface for Mckenna Grace. Graham has appeared in Gifted alongside Chris Evans, Ghostbusters: Hereafter, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, making him one of the more well-known cast members. Many viewers were in favor of this option on social media as well.  ,  ,
Grace will have the job of conveying the various layers to Maysilee’s circle. At the beginning of the book, the protagonist is seen as a sluggish, wealthy woman, but as the story develops, Haymitch realizes there is more to her than meets the eye, and the two figures form a solid relationship. Grace’s efficiency may walk on her ability to capture Maysilee’s growth in a way that may have viewers empathizing with her until the very end.
Grace now has almost three million Instagram followers and five million on TikTok because of her popularity among Gen Z users, which probably appealed to the Lionsgate marketing department as well. She’s also just 18 years old, making this another case of the artists once avoiding the typical Hollywood concern of people pushing 30 playing teenagers.  ,
Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee
Plutarch plays a crucial role in Mockingjay, helping Katniss defeat President Snow and the Capitol, and he is a recurring figure in the initial series. In the movie type, he was played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of the director’s last jobs. In Sunrise on the Receiving, we learn about Plutarch’s rise to power and how he aided the insurgent cause while gaining the support of the leader.
Jesse Plemons was cast to play a younger Plato in the upcoming movie. Although it will be challenging to live up to Hoffman’s personality and skills, Plemons appears to be ready. In reality, Plemons and Hoffman have really shared the screen up when Update played Hoffman’s boy in the 2012 movie The Master. Update has been working in the industry for a while and, most recently, played a role in the well-known TV set Breaking Bad. He was also nominated for an Oscar as a supporting artist in The Power of the Dog.
Whitney Peak portraying Lenore Dove
Whitney Peak was cast to play Lenore Dove, the music, free-spirited girl of Haymitch, who is a part of the traveling music group in District 12, or the” Covey”. Peak is a fairly new actress finest known for her roles in youth tragedies like Max’s reboot of Gossip Girl and Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.  ,
We’ll see if Peak you bring the same outrageous, funny power to the stage that Rachel Zegler did when she portrayed Lucy Gray Baird in the film Song of Songbirds and Snakes. Zegler captured the hearts of Hunger Games fans, helping her to land roles afterward like Y2K and the latest Broadway production of , Romeo and Juliet. Zegler has already expressed her support for Peak’s casting on social media, saying,” I know she’s gonna make the Baird name proud.”
Beetee is played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Beetee is a major character in the second Hunger Games novel, Catching Fire, where he uses his intelligence and knowledge of the arena to help stop the Games. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we learn more about his past involvement with the rebellion and his family, which helped him make his decisions in the first three books more significant.
Young Beetee will be played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. who has had roles in other major movies like Elvis, The Trial of Chicago 7, Luce, and Waves and has been acting since 2013. The actor, who had previously played the role of Jeffrey Wright in the first trilogy, did a good job of using his intelligence to defeat the Capitol. Harrison will act as a mentor to young Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping and aid him in his rebellion against the Capitol, showing that just because he’s nerdy doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous.  ,
Maya Hawke as Wiress ,
One of Haymitch’s mentors, Wiress, outsmarts the game designers and other tributes, and she won the Hunger Games the year before. Wiress will be played by Maya Hawke, who is known for being the daughter of famous actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman as well as her role in the popular TV series Stranger Things. Many admirers of her and the entire franchise were pleased with the charismatic choice.  ,
Like Beetee, Wiress’s character is depicted in Catching Fire as the intelligent but troubled tribute from District 3. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see that she used to be able to communicate normally before the Capitol tortured her for her involvement in the rebellion. Amanda Plummer, who portrayed her eccentric, odd demeanor well in the original films, played her role, but Hawke will be giving Wiress a more sane and coherent role. She will have to embody the young, capable victor who encourages the District 12 kids to use their intelligence to succeed in the Hunger Games without having to kill.  ,
Lili Taylor as the Mags
The kind and loveable mentor Mags will be played by Lili Taylor. The American actress has appeared in numerous well-known films, including Dogfight, I Shot Andy Warhol, Mystic Pizza, and The Conjuring. Mags was also introduced in Catching Fire as Finnick’s mentor and a sweet, maternal figure. We see more of her in Sunrise on the Reaping as she assists Haymitch and the District 12 tributes in their preparation and shows us what she was like before the Capitol’s impact on her.  ,
After years of suffering at the Capitol, Lynn Cohen cast her as Mags in the Catching Fire movie. The Mags in this movie will be different, more energetic and able-bodied while still retaining the same affectionate nature. Even though the tributes are almost certain to die, we will see her taking care of them and making them feel like human beings.  ,
Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow
One of the District 12 tributes, Wyatt Callow is a mathematical genius. Wyatt is known to take bets on the Hunger Games and calculate the odds of each tribute for his father, which Haymitch doesn’t like. Haymitch eventually comes to terms with Wyatt’s good character and how devoted he is to their group, despite the two characters ‘ rocky beginnings.  ,
Ben Wang will play Wyatt in the upcoming adaptation. Wang is also about to star in Karate Kid: Legend and has also appeared in the Mean Girls remake and the Disney + series American Born Chinese. Wyatt is socially awkward but kind-hearted, and Wang will have to show his character’s depth beyond his level of intelligence.  ,
Ralph Fiennes as President Snow
The legendary Ralph Fiennes will play the brutal President Snow in this role. The British actor has received multiple Academy Award nominations for his roles in Schindler’s List, Conclave, and The English Patient. His legacy extends to some of the most well-known films of the past 30 years, which range from Skyfall to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fiennes is one of the most veteran members of the cast and someone that the younger actors can look up to as a mentor.  ,
Of course Fiennes is no stranger to playing ruthless dictators either since his transformation into the role of Voldemort in the Harry Potter series is etched into the memories of generations. When Haymitch, the rebellion, and the 50th Hunger Games are in play as the heartless president of Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping, Fiennes will play him. There is no doubt that Fiennes will be able to portray Snow in the movie just as intimidating and coldhearted as fans have imagined him to be.
Effie Trinket is portrayed by Elle Fanning.
The most recent casting announcement has been Elle Fanning as the Capitol mentor Effie Trinket. Fanning was actually the actor that many fans suggested he should play, and it seems like the producers of the Hunger Games take those suggestions seriously. Fanning is the sister of the actress Dakota Fanning and has been in a number of popular films including A Complete Unknown, Maleficent, and The Great TV series.  ,
Effie is a constant character throughout the original series ( where she is played by Elizabeth Banks onscreen ), and in Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see how she obtained her position in District 12 and her first meeting with her fellow mentor Haymitch. Although she has sympathy for the district kids, the Capitol propaganda prevents her from fully comprehending their struggles. She thinks it ’, s sad they have to go into the Hunger Games but believes it’s necessary to keep the peace. Fanning will have to portray the naive and extravagant character who has an incredibly ignorant view of the world.
Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman ,
The charismatic entertainer and showman we see in the first three movies interviewing the tributes before entering the arena is Caesar Flickerman. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see more of a younger Caesar conducting interviews before the 50th Hunger Games, but we also get some insight into how he can manipulate and sell a certain narrative to the Capitol audience. Stanley Tucci, who had previously completely transformed himself into the role and really brought the preening media personality to life, previously played the character. And now Kieran Culkin has been cast for the upcoming prequel where he will get the chance to commit to the same eccentric hair, makeup, and outfits that Tucci made iconic.
Culkin is a seasoned actor who is almost certain to take on the challenge. After all, he just won an Oscar for A Real Pain, and before that he won an Emmy ( and was nominated for several more ) due to his turn as Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession. He will undoubtedly be Fuller from Home Alone for a whole generation of moviegoers.
Molly McCann as Louella McCoy and Iona Bell as Lou Lou
Louella and Lou Lou are two very similar-looking individuals who will each play very different roles. Louella will be played by Molly McCann who will have to play the sweet, innocent girl who Haymitch vows to protect when she is reaped in the Hunger Games at just 13. A young Irish actress named McCann has already appeared in 19 projects, including movies and TV shows, and has been nominated for an Irish Film and TV award in 2021.  ,
On the other hand, Iona Bell is cast as Lou Lou, a mysterious girl from District 11, who was tortured by the Capitol and who has since been driven into almost utter whimsy as a result. Bell is a British actress who has only been a part of one project before this casting. The teen actress is currently shooting in a few independent movies as well as a movie with Taika Waititi ( Fing! ) which will come out later this year. Although her in Sunrise on the Reaping is an odd character, you can’t help but feel for her because of what she has gone through.  ,
The first post on Den of Geek: Sunrise on the Reaping: Meet the Full Cast of the Hunger Games Prequel appeared first.
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