The Hunger Games Movies Cut 1 of Catching Fire’s Best Characters, & Sunrise on the Reaping Can Finally Fix This 12-Year-Old Mistake (Under 1 Condition)

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Enthusiasts of the popular franchise couldn’t contain their excitement when Suzanne Collins’ latest book in her best-selling series titled “Sunrise on the Reaping” hit shelves in 2025. This novel delves into the history of Haymitch Abernathy, who was chosen as a tribute for the 50th Hunger Games during the Second Quarter Quell. When the book was announced, Lionsgate also confirmed that they would be producing a film adaptation, scheduled for release in November 2026.

In contrast to Haymitch being the main character, it was Maysilee Donner who captured viewers’ hearts as a standout character in the book. With Maysilee taking on the role, fans are thrilled to witness the portrayal of District 12’s tribute. Since the Hunger Games films overlooked the Donners and the Undersees in a contentious manner, the Sunrise on the Reaping film now has the chance to correct past oversights, particularly concerning the backstory of the renowned Mockingjay pin.

Who Is Maysilee Donner in The Hunger Games?

Catching Fire Introduced This Significant Character

In the initial series, Maysilee was introduced, and “Catching Fire” specified that she was among the District 12 tributes competing alongside Haymitch. A significant detail about her character in the book is her connection to Madge Undersee, as they are aunt and niece. The novel also discloses that Maysilee had been a close friend of Katniss’ mother, and she passed on her pet canary after Maysilee’s death during the Games.

My mom mentioned she had a friend named Maysilee Donner that particular year. The Donners ran the candy store, and they gifted me a canary – a songbird – to me after.

– Catching Fire, 2009.

In “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, readers got short glimpses into the Second Quarter Quell and Haymitch’s partnership with Maysilee in the arena. A key detail from these snippets was that Maysilee owned the Mockingjay pin, which Katniss had received from Madge before the 74th Hunger Games. Although readers were aware of the outcome of Haymitch’s games thanks to “Catching Fire”, fans have been eagerly waiting for a novel delving into the Second Quarter Quell for more than a decade. Lastly, in “Sunrise on the Reaping”, fan expectations were met as they got this exploration, and also gained deeper understanding of Maysilee’s character, making her a beloved figure among fans.

Maysilee’s Role in Sunrise on the Reaping

Maysilee Was a Close Ally of Haymitch Abernathy

In the novel “Sunrise on the Reaping,” Mayslie is presented as a resident of District 12’s merchant class, with her family operating the town square’s candy store. Initially, she comes across as haughty and snobbish, reflecting the social divide in District 12. However, when she enters the arena alongside Haymitch, Mayslie undergoes significant personal transformation. She sets aside their initial differences to form a strong alliance with Haymitch.

As I find myself drawn towards their corner, my gaze lands on the trio in the girls’ study area – Asterid, Merrilee, and Maysilee, the undeniably haughty lady of our town. Here they are, engaged in a lively conversation that seems to hold their rapt attention.

– Sunrise on the Reaping, 2025.

Fans found themselves drawn to Maysilee due to several relatable qualities, among them her unconventional defiance towards Drusilla Sickle. Prior to the Games, Maysilee joined forces with the fresh recruits, aiding some of her fellow tributes in transforming their home tokens into necklaces for use in the arena. As the Games commenced, Maysilee maintained loyalty within the alliance, associating mainly with Haymitch until after the volcano eruption. The bond between them quickly deepened, leading them to address each other as kin. A tragic turn of events occurred when Maysilee fell victim to a horde of mutated birds, leaving Haymitch by her side during her final moments. This heart-wrenching scene resonated deeply with many fans.

Why Maysilee Was an Important Character

Maysilee Represented the Class Divide of District 12

In the novel’s storyline, Maysilee plays a significant role, but her significance goes beyond just the plot. Hailing from the upper class, she symbolizes the stark social divide within the district. Interestingly, although Haymitch and Maysilee belong to different social strata, they both find themselves selected for the Games. This underscores that despite their district differences, they are all pawns in the Capitol’s game.

“Make sure they don’t use our blood to paint their posters?”

Indeed, let’s make our own posters! I have an idea where we can acquire the necessary paint supplies. To confirm our agreement, as if back in the schoolyard, she offers a pinkie promise. “Let’s seal the deal.

– Sunrise on the Reaping, 2025.

During the Games, Maysilee confides in Haymitch that she doesn’t want to be just another pawn of the Capitol’s Games. This conviction spurs Haymitch to take every necessary step towards ending the Games and crafting his own storyline. Frequently, they refer to this as “painting their own posters,” a term that reflects the posters plastered on the walls across the nation. Meanwhile, Maysilee, though she doesn’t display it in the arena, bears the Mockingjay pin—originally belonging to her—which ties her to Katniss Everdeen, the girl who eventually brings an end to the Games and topples the Capitol’s oppressive rule over Panem.

Madge Undersee’s Exclusion From the Films

Maysilee’s Niece Was Cut From the Film Adaptations

Fans are eager to see how the new adaptation will address the omission of Madge Undersee, a character introduced in the first Hunger Games novel as the daughter of District 12’s mayor and a school friend of Katniss, from the original film adaptations. It was revealed in Catching Fire that Madge is the daughter of Maysilee’s twin sister, Merrilee. Like Maysilee, Madge symbolizes the class divide in District 12, as she doesn’t need to take tesserae like Maysilee did, who had to draw her name so many times for tesserae that it was in the reaping bowl 42 times.

Moving stealthily towards the Boundary without uttering a word, I can’t say I approve of how Gale criticized Madge, yet there’s no denying his point – the harvesting process is skewed, with those less fortunate bearing the brunt.

– The Hunger Games, 2008.

I, a loyal follower, found myself becoming a valuable ally to Katniss, as I showed up at her home with healing medicine following Gale’s brutal whipping at the district square at the hands of Peacekeeper Romulus Thread. When my character, Madge, was left out of the film adaptation, fans felt quite disheartened, and her exclusion became a highly debated decision among us. Although the story could have progressed without Madge, her absence created complications in how certain aspects were portrayed.

Maysilee Was Given the Pin as a Gift From Tam Amber

In the story, Madge presents Katniss with the Mockingjay brooch in District 12’s courtroom, following her volunteering for Primrose Everdeen during the reaping. Previously, it was disclosed in “Catching Fire” that the pin had originally belonged to Maysilee, and now, in “Sunrise on the Reaping,” we learn about the emblem’s revolutionary origins. It is unveiled in the novel that Maysilee received the pin as a birthday present; however, she wasn’t particularly fond of it.

You’re allowed to bring one item from your district to the arena as a reminder of home. Would you like to wear this?” She presents the ornate, circular gold pin she had worn earlier. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be a tiny depiction of a bird in mid-flight, something I hadn’t noticed before.

– The Hunger Games, 2008.

The sunrise-themed brooch, crafted by Tam Amber from the Covey, links back to the prequel novel and Katniss’s storyline. Notably, Tam Amber is a kin of Lucy Gray Baird, who won the 10th Hunger Games. As the films opted to leave out Madge, it was Greasy Sae from the Hob who handed the brooch to Katniss instead. The movie suggests that the pin holds deeper significance, but this aspect isn’t further developed in subsequent adaptations, with the focus primarily on its role as a symbol for the second uprising.

What Sunrise on the Reaping Needs to Get Right About Maysilee

The Film Needs to Highlight the Character’s Significance

In the eagerness of fans to witness Maysilee on screen, it’s crucial that the film delves deeply into her character to make a compelling reason for this prequel’s existence, as some casual viewers might question why they should invest in a character who was dead by Katniss’ time. To achieve this, the movie could concentrate more on Maysilee and her bond with Haymitch. Since the earlier films neglected the socio-economic divide in District 12, the screen adaptation of “Sunrise on the Reaping” provides a chance to address it through Maysilee’s storyline, while also highlighting her determination not to be just another tool manipulated by the Capitol.

Additionally, in the revised version of the movie, the backstory of the Mockingjay pin needs to be altered to clarify how it came into Greasy Sae’s possession. Instead of implying that she gave the pin to Katniss as a sign of her being the Chosen One, the film could portray Maysilee’s twin, Merrilee, visiting the Hob after the Games and offering the pin there. This could be explained in the movie as the pin serving as a painful reminder for Merrilee of her late sister.

Mckenna Grace Will Bring Maysilee Donner to Life

With Maysilee being such an important character in “Sunrise on the Reaping“, fans had been speculating about who would be chosen to play her. In April 2025, Lionsgate revealed that the role of Maysilee would go to a young actress who has already made a strong impression. While some fans thought she was an obvious choice, many were delighted with this decision due to her impressive performances at such a tender age.

Mckenna Grace Films/TV Series Roles
The Handmaid’s Tale Esther Keyes
I, Tonya Young Tonya
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Phoebe
Young Sheldon Paige Swanson
Fuller House Rose Harbenberger
The Haunting of Hill House Young Theo

18-year-old Mckenna Grace has already made a significant mark on both film and television, featuring in various productions such as “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “I, Tonya,” “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Young Sheldon,” “Fuller House,” and “The Haunting of Hill House.” Her portrayal of Esther Keyes in “The Handmaid’s Tale” has particularly impressed viewers, as they eagerly anticipate her depiction of the beloved character Maysilee.

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2025-05-19 17:40