The Hunger Games Prequel Scores Lead Roles: Meet the New Faces of Haymitch and Lenore!

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The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is letting the casting games begin.

In simple terms, for the upcoming prequel of the dystopian series, the actors chosen to play the key characters of a younger Haymitch Abernathy and his love interest, Lenore Dove Baird, have been confirmed.

Who will portray the eagerly awaited characters in this production? Joseph Zada has been cast as Haymitch, and Whitney Peak will assume the role of Lenore, according to a report by TopMob News on April 23.

“Sunrise in Panem: The Reaping” – The sixth installment from the popular “Hunger Games” series, penned by author Suzanne Collins, is set to grace theaters in November 2026. This long-anticipated continuation will arrive three years following the release of the previous film, “The Hunger Games: Songbirds & Snakes Ballad.” The franchise’s first movie was debuted in theaters back in 2012.

The central storyline of the movie will revolve around the character of 16-year-old Haymitch (portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the initial five installments), a former Hunger Games victor who guided characters Katniss and Peeta in their respective games as depicted in the original book and film. In the prequel titled “Sunrise at the Reaping,” set 24 years prior, we’ll witness Zada’s Haymitch embark on an unforeseen journey when he is chosen as a tribute himself.

Zada is set to appear in multiple upcoming projects, with his role in the prequel being only one of them. He’s already committed to feature in Amazon Prime’s series “We Were Liars,” due for release in June, and Netflix’s adaptation of “East of Eden.” Moreover, he has also acted in the screen version of the book “Invisible Boys,” which was released earlier this year.

In the 50th Annual Games, Peak will portray Lenore Dove Baird, the love interest of Haymitch. At 22 years old, this talented actress is juggling multiple projects, such as Sony Pictures’ upcoming shark-centric thriller titled “Shiver” and Amazon MGM’s “4 Kids Walk into a Bank.” Currently, she has been recognized for her role as Zoya Lott in the reboot of “Gossip Girl” on Max.

The “Hunger Games” series has consistently been a platform that showcases exceptional young talents, and Jo and Whitney continue this tradition with great passion, depth, and intensity. As stated by Erin Westerman, co-president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group on April 23rd, “These two actresses were selected from numerous talented performers worldwide. They didn’t just impress us with their acting skills, but with the raw emotion they infused into these iconic roles.

She went on to say, “Haymitch has long been a beloved figure, and his backstory is eagerly awaited within the franchise. His connection with Lenore Dove plays a significant role in the emotional narrative of Panem. We’re excited for fans to delve into the tale that sculpted one of the most intriguing characters in the series.

For more on The Hunger Games, read on.

In truth, when we mention that every young actress vied to embody bow-and-arrow brandishing heroine Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games,” we’re not exaggerating. A number of talented actresses such as Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Emma Roberts, Saoirse Ronan, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jodelle Ferland, Lyndsy Fonseca, Emily Browning, Shailene Woodley, Kaya Scodelario and Troian Bellisario all tried out for the role. However, it was Jennifer Lawrence who director Gary Ross had his eyes on from the start.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2011, Ross confidently stated that he had chosen perfectly for the role of Katniss and there was no debate about who was the best fit. He even described it as the simplest casting decision he had ever made throughout his career.

2. However, Lawrence pondered over whether or not she was prepared to accept the role, given her apprehension about the magnitude of fame that would accompany it, similar to how Twilight‘s stars like Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson felt.

At midnight in England, I was sound asleep when I received the call, as Lawrence explained to MTV News. The books and script had captured my heart so deeply, and then, all of a sudden, it was an immediate opportunity before me – but the magnitude of the decision was overwhelming. In the end, it was her mother, Karen Lawrence, who supported her and encouraged her to take on the movie role.

Lawrence explained that someone had accused her of hypocrisy because she claimed size doesn’t matter in movies while also avoiding studio films. She added, “This is a film you admire, and I was considering rejecting it due to its small scale.” This made her realize, “I don’t want fear to prevent me from opportunities. However, deep down, I really wanted it – it was about confronting and overcoming my fears.

3. Following Lawrence being confirmed as Katniss, the Internet, as it often does, grew upset over a few aspects: The 20-year-old actress was older than the character who is 16 in the first book, and she had blonde hair. However, Ross wasn’t bothered by the initial criticism, explaining to Entertainment Weekly that Suzanne Collins, who collaborated on the script for The Hunger Games, supported Lawrence’s casting decision.

The filmmaker stated that not only was Suzanne comfortable with Jen’s age, but she strongly believed that the character of Katniss required a certain level of maturity and strength to effectively incite a revolution. She emphasized that an insubstantial person should not play this role, and neither should someone who is too young. Instead, Suzanne was firm about wanting a more mature actor for the part. In fact, she was more worried about casting someone who was too young rather than someone who was too old for the character.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’d say I steer clear of internet reactions to my work, much like navigating away from a gravitational abyss. Just as I avoid the pull of a black hole, I don’t typically delve into online responses.

She mentioned, “I hadn’t realized everyone was so troubled until following the dyeing of my hair. Only then did folks express, ‘Wow, blonde hair can change to brown!’

6. In awe, I can hardly contain my excitement as I reflect on Jennifer Lawrence’s salary journey. For her debut in the first movie, she pocketed a modest $500,000. But for the sequel, 2013’s “Catching Fire”, she cashed in a cool $10 million! What an amazing leap!

6. Among several contenders, including Alexander Ludwig, Hunter Parrish, Lucas Till, and Evan Peters, it was ultimately Josh Hutcherson who won the role of Katniss Everdeen’s District 12 tribute and eventual love interest, Peeta Mellark.

In a statement back then, Ross expressed that he believed casting Peeta would be the most challenging task, but feels incredibly fortunate to have found an actor who perfectly portrays this intricate character. He’s eagerly looking forward to collaborating with Josh.

7. As for me, Gale Hawthorne – Katniss Everdeen’s taciturn childhood friend – it was Liam Hemsworth who emerged victorious among David Henrie, Drew Roy, and Robbie Amell. Producer Nina Jacobson put it this way: “Gale is a man of few words, so the actor we selected had to embody him subtly rather than through dialogue.” This subtle portrayal was masterfully achieved in Suzanne’s writing, with Liam bringing that nuance to life on screen in a way that felt incredibly authentic.

8. For the film, all three main actors underwent hair color changes. Chris Hemsworth, who originally has blond hair, dyed it dark, while Jennifer Lawrence transformed her brunette hair into a different shade following a thorough search for the perfect brown tone, and Josh Hutcherson bleached his locks.

In 2014, renowned hairstylist and wig designer Linda Flowers shared with Cosmopolitan that they rented six expensive wigs in various shades of brown for a project. Ultimately, it was decided to use the darkest shade as a reference when dyeing Bradley Cooper’s hair, despite his preference for the lighter options.

9.  To prepare for the physically demanding role, Lawrence underwent various workout methods. 

She shared with MTV News that while there’s a lot of training involved, it’s actually quite enjoyable. She’s been practicing archery for about six weeks, and has also tried rock climbing, tree climbing, combat, running, and vaulting. However, she also does yoga and other activities to maintain agility, comparing herself to a cat.

10. On the final day of his six-week training period, Lawrence collided with a wall while performing an exercise, nearly causing a hold-up in production.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence shared that while running towards something, her foot didn’t lift, causing her to collide with the wall using my abdomen instead. Her trainer initially feared she had ruptured her spleen. She needed a CAT scan and was subsequently placed inside a tube where they injected a hot liquid into her body. Thankfully, no bones were broken, and though Lawrence sustained bruising, she was able to carry on with her activities.

11. Before the movie’s filming, Hutcherson underwent rigorous preparation, as he shared with Collider in 2012. He stated, “I hadn’t really done that for a film before. I gained approximately 15 pounds of muscle, which meant lots of chicken consumption and a diet high in protein, low in carbs.”

12. Regarding Hemsworth, he shared that his elder brother, Chris Hemsworth (known for playing Thor), gave him some unexpected tips in preparation for the film.

Chris Hemsworth shared in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his brother teased him about his weight before a filming event. He joked, “‘The Hunger Games,’ not ‘The Eating Games’ is what he said.

During the thirteenth week of our production, I unintentionally delivered a strong kick to Josh’s head while we were filming, causing him to momentarily lose consciousness. Oops!

In an interview with Yahoo, Hutcherson recounted an incident where a woman was acting rather boastful, as if she believed herself to be like the famous action star, Jackie Chan. This individual started performing air kicks and bragged about flipping over Hutcherson’s head. However, her display of martial arts prowess ended abruptly when she accidentally struck him in the temple, causing him to lose consciousness. When Hutcherson regained awareness, he found himself waking up with the woman crying over him, expressing remorse for her actions.

14. As I followed the production team in North Carolina, sweltering summer heat and frequent downpours tested my dedication, but nothing could dampen my spirits. Even the occasional bear sauntering onto the set when it caught a whiff of lunch was just an added thrill for me!

15. Initially, Woody Harrelson declined the role of Katniss and Peeta’s drunken mentor Haymitch Abernathy in “The Hunger Games” twice, confessing to The Hollywood Reporter in 2017 that he didn’t think it was a good part. However, he admitted later on that he was mistaken – the role turned out to be terrific, and he was grateful for director Gary Ross reaching out to him.

16. Elizabeth Banks needed a daily manicure to maintain her character, Effie Trinket (the chaperone of Katniss and Peeta from the Capitol), as the elaborate nail designs turned out to be rather inconvenient during filming.

Banks stated to Collider in 2012 that he “really couldn’t perform daily tasks,” as his assistants handled everything for him. He explained that he couldn’t text on his phone, use the bathroom, or even change his costume. By the time he reached the lunch line, everyone else had already finished eating and returned to their trailers. He lamented, “I just got here and there’s no one to eat with!” It took him about 25 minutes to put on and take off his costume.

17. Lenny Kravitz, who played Katniss Everdeen’s hairstylist and trusted ally Cinna in the Hunger Games films, was already acquainted with Jennifer Lawrence due to their shared familial bond – Lenny’s daughter Zoe Kravitz.

In 2012, he shared with HeyUGuys that they were filming “X-Men: First Class” in London, but since he resides in Paris, the cast members would travel by train and often stayed at his place. He recounted, “My house essentially served as a temporary residence for the cast.” This allowed him to meet Jennifer Lawrence, whom he immediately admired for her humor and charm. He explained that they became friends over weekends spent together in Paris. It was amusing when Gary asked who would play Katniss, and he discovered it was Jennifer Lawrence. Gary appreciated their pre-existing relationship since it made casting easier, as he felt like Jennifer was almost a daughter to him, ensuring a harmonious working dynamic.

18. At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards in 2013, “Safe & Sound,” a song originally composed and sung by Taylor Swift along with the Civil Wars, won the award for Best Song Composed for Visual Media.

19. In March 2012, when this film debuted, it broke records for first-day earnings ($67.3 million) and opening weekend revenue (a staggering $152 million) for non-sequels. By the end of the year, it had climbed its way to be the third highest earning movie of that year.

20. Director Ross originally planned to come back, but eventually left the series, and Francis Lawrence took over to direct the subsequent three movies instead.

In March 2022, Ross shared with Variety that the choice was incredibly tough for him. What most folks didn’t know is that he juggled two roles: writing and directing. Typically, you complete one task before moving on to the other. With only three-and-a-half months between projects, he felt it was impossible to excel in both roles. As a result, he decided to move forward. He had the opportunity to work on Free State of Jones, a project that, although not widely viewed, remains one of his proudest achievements. So, all in all, everything turned out well for him.

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2025-04-24 03:18