Book to Screen
‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Dream Cast: Our Picks for Haymitch, Lenore Dove, Maysilee & More
Sunrise on the Reaping made us forget everything we thought we knew about Haymitch Abernathy.
Suzanne Collins’ latest prequel takes us inside the 50th Hunger Games. In a surprising twist, Haymitch wasn’t fairly reaped. He was only tossed into the Second Quarter Quell after defying a Peacekeeper. Haymitch’s rebellious energy is present from the start. He’s exactly the kind of person the Capitol wants to snuff out, but Haymitch eludes their control at every turn.
The novel introduces us to unforgettable characters in The Hunger Games universe — Lenore Dove, Maysilee Donner, to name a few — and provides devastating context to characters we know and love.
Lionsgate has already announced an adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping, which will hit theaters on November 20, 2026. Woody Harrelson is a tough act to follow, but Swooon has found the perfect actor to build the foundation of the Haymitch Abernathy we meet in The Hunger Games, as well as the performers to step into the key roles in Sunrise on the Reaping.
The hype for Sunrise on the Reaping is catching. It’s only a matter of time before we get casting news, so Swooon is throwing our cast picks into the arena. Let us know if you agree with our choices in the comments below.
Cooper van Grootel as Haymitch Abernathy
Everyone is going to have their opinions on a young Haymitch Abernathy because Woody Harrelson‘s performance gave us so much. It’s difficult to cast a character who was already perfectly cast, but we believe we’ve found our young Haymitch: Cooper van Grootel. The Australian actor stepped onto the Hollywood scene in the role of fan-favorite bad boy Nate Macauley in Peacock’s One of Us Is Lying adaptation. Grootel has already shown us he can be a rebel with a cause while also balancing emotionally challenging moments. He’s giving serious Haymitch energy, from his looks to his vibe. Let Cooper van Grootel run with this. He’s got everything we need in a young Haymitch.
Sophie Thatcher as Maysilee Donner
We must confess, Maysilee Donner is our favorite tribute in SOTR. (Sorry, Haymitch!) From her spats with Drusilla to her days spent beautifying the other tributes’ tokens, Maysilee proved time and time again that she was, in fact, that girl. Katniss and Peeta watch footage of Maysilee’s tragic end in Catching Fire, and everyone knows Haymitch was the lone 50th Hunger Games victor, but we couldn’t stop ourselves from rooting for “the most stuck-up girl in town.” Maysilee deserves an actress comfortable with portraying survival in the wilderness, so we’re putting the role in Yellowjackets‘ Sophie Thatcher‘s incredibly capable hands.
Maisy Stella as Lenore Dove
Lenore Dove is arguably the hardest role to cast in the Sunrise on the Reaping adaptation. She is Haymitch’s true love, the one he’s desperate to get back to after he’s unfairly reaped. She joins Lucy Gray Baird in haunting the entire Hunger Games saga. Like Rachel Zegler‘s Lucy Gray, the role of Lenore requires a powerful vocal ability. Maisy Stella is a force to be reckoned with in My Old Ass, and we are certain she would embody the fearless essence of Lenore Dove. Plus, let’s not forget that Stella can sing.
Jordan Fisher as Beetee Latier
If there’s one thing you should know about Jordan Fisher, it’s that he LOVES a good book. Crowned BookTok’s King of Romance, we can’t think of anyone better to take on the role of the beating heart of the rebellion: Beetee Latier. In SOTR, we learn that long before Beetee joined Katniss’ alliance in Catching Fire, he was a mischievous victor whose punishment from the Capitol was the rigged reaping of his 12-year-old son, Ampert. We know that Fisher can bring big emotions to any role and we’re confident that his portrayal of young Beetee, who was played by Jeffrey Wright in the original trilogy, would be everything we need and more. Dare we say he would make a beautiful edition to the SOTR soundtrack, too…
Cooper Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee
Sunrise on the Reaping sheds insight into just how long Plutarch Heavensbee has been looking for a revolution. He sees a spark in Haymitch, an ember for the rebellion. He’s a man on a mission, but he also has a soul. Plutarch gives Haymitch a few final moments with his mother and brother before he’s taken away from District 12, never to see them again. This younger version of Philip Seymour Hoffman‘s character has to embody the qualities the late actor did so well in the role: ambitious, calculated, and enigmatic, capable of fooling President Snow for years. Hoffman’s son, Cooper, has shown he has the acting prowess just like his father. (Seriously, check out his impressive performance in Saturday Night.) Cooper stepping into his father’s last role would be the perfect tribute to a brilliant actor and loving father.
Kathryn Newton as Effie Trinket
The odds were ever in our favor when young Effie Trinket walked onto the scene in SOTR. Played by Elizabeth Banks in the original trilogy, Effie is a fan-favorite character who serves as the District 12 escort during the 74th and 75th Hunger Games. Consistently caught between her deep-rooted Capitol values and her unique brand of empathy, young Effie provides an incredibly fascinating window into nature versus nurture for Capitol citizens. To play young Effie, we’ve selected Kathryn Newton, who would not only look the part but balance the comedy of the role with the seriousness of the Games.
Niles Fitch as Wyatt Callow
Wyatt Callow knows the odds are not in his favor when he’s reaped for the 50th Hunger Games. He may seem timid on the surface, but he’s just assessing everyone in the room, calculating all kinds probabilities in his head. But his focus isn’t all on numbers. When it counts, Wyatt is there to protect Lou Lou in the Games, no matter the cost. Niles Fitch rose to fame as teen Randall Pearson on This Is Us, and he was the first person we pictured when we thought about Wyatt. Fitch knows how to give a quietly powerful performance, and we’re placing our bets on him.
Lea Thompson as Mags Flanagan
From admitting that her goal in her games was protecting her district partner to volunteering in Annie’s place and sacrificing herself to spare her allies in Catching Fire, Mags Flanagan has been selfless from day one. In Catching Fire, we saw Mags portrayed by Lynn Cohen. To fill the late actress’ shoes, we’ve chosen Lea Thompson, who’s been around the block playing everything from leading ladies to motherly figures, making her a perfect actress to play the District 12mentor.
Thomasin McKenzie as Wiress
Readers were first introduced to Wiress in Catching Fire and little was known about her backstory other than she was a previous victor. In Sunrise on the Reaping, a young Wiress, fresh off winning the 49th Hunger Games, has to mentor the District 12 tributes for the Second Quarter Quell. Wiress, along with Mags, try to support Haymitch, Maysilee, Wyatt, and Louella the best she can and offers key advice that Haymitch remembers inside the arena. Thomasin McKenzie has been a star on the rise for several years now, and she would bring the necessary nuance needed for Wiress, a young woman forced to prepare the tributes for death while also secretly aiding in the brewing resistance.
Kiefer Sutherland as President Snow
While we have already seen Tom Blyth as young Coriolanus in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, SOTR takes place decades after Ballad, so we’re confident that the casting directors will pick a third actor to take on the role of The Hunger Games’ insidious villain, originally played by Donald Sutherland. As we know, Snow lands on top, making the President a tad obsessed with his legacy. For that reason, we (and the majority of TikTok) believe none other than Kiefer Sutherland should step into his late father’s shoes as President Snow.
Chase Dillon as Ampert Latier
Beetee Latier’s son, Ampert, is so crucial to Haymitch’s attempt to sabotage the Games. Ampert was reaped to punish his father, who had disrupted the Capitol communications system during his Games. Ampert, seemingly knowing his fate from the start, remains fearless as he aids Haymitch and helps assemble the Newcomers. Chase Dillon had a breakout moment in the Haunted Mansion remake, and we know he’d make an excellent Ampert, who is so brave until the very end.
Sofia Wylie as Silka Sharp
Sofia Wylie stole the show as the misunderstood Gina in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. We’d love to see Wylie do something totally different for her next role, so we’re throwing her name into the ring for Silka. She’s one of the intimidating female tributes from District 1. As a Career, Silka has been groomed for the Hunger Games. She’s relentless and domineering from the moment she enters the arena. This role would show off Wylie’s range, and we know she slay — literally and figuratively.
Mykal-Michelle Harris as Louella McCoy & Lou Lou
Louella McCoy is Haymitch’s little “sweetheart.” Haymitch tries to protect the youngster the best he can, and he’s devastated by a tragedy leading up to the Games. Louella is then replaced with Lou Lou, a stand-in for Louella. Mykal-Michelle Harris has been a scene-stealer since she was three years old, and the rising star would make a perfect Louella and later Lou Lou.
Drake Rodger as Panache Barker
Panache is a grizzly District 1 tribute who makes a good adversary for Haymitch. He’s the kind of guy President Snow wishes would always win the Games. Panache needs to be formidable and a little unhinged. Drake Rodger would have a lot of fun with this role. Let him cook!
Kaylee Hottle as Wellie
Wellie has a prominent role in the 50th Hunger Games. She’s a District 6 tribute who becomes one of Haymitch’s “doves” when she joins the Newcomers. Kaylee Hottle wowed with her breakout performance in Godzilla vs. Kong. Wellie leaves such an emotional impact on Haymitch, considering what happens in the last act of the Games, and the deaf actress is exactly who we picture as the gentle little bird from District 6, an innocent girl thrust into carnage.
Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman
For Caesar Flickerman, we’ve taken on the mentality that the casting directors should fix what isn’t broken. As a staple of the original Hunger Games trilogy cast, Stanley Tucci‘s Caesar Flickerman was a force to be reckoned with. Given the makeup and fashion standards of the Capitol, we’re sure they would welcome a technologically aged-down Tucci without pause, and honestly, for Tucci to reprise his role, so would we.
Jennifer Coolidge as Drusilla Sickle
From a White Lotus resort to the heart of the Capitol feels like a natural leap for any actor’s career, but one in particular has caught our eye to play District 12’s dreadful escort, Drusilla. Jennifer Coolidge, consider this a personal invite to Panem on our behalf — to say we need you in this role would be an understatement. In all seriousness, there is no one who brings hilarity to a mean-spirited role better than Coolidge. We can already imagine her face pulled back by thumbtacks (ew) as she argues with her “piglets” (double ew).
Jaime Camil as Magno Stift
Magno is what Cinna would be if Cinna was burnt out, unhappily married, and had a strange history of licking toads. While Cinna brought a spark of innovation to his quarter quell, Magno brings the same stinky coal miner costumes that he’s been reusing for years. Magno is one of those characters you love to hate, and we can think of no one better to bring the reptile-obsessed fashion icon to life than Jaime Camil, who is best known for playing Rogelio de la Vega in Jane the Virgin. Camil is known for his comedy, and honestly, Camil and Jennifer Coolidge are the dynamic duo the world needs— nay, deserves.
Kyle Allen as Burdock Everdeen
Burdock Everdeen doesn’t have a huge presence in Sunrise on the Reaping, but his role is important. Once Haymitch returns from the Games and faces unspeakable tragedies at home, young Burdock is there to support his friend. In the midst of Haymitch’s downward spiral, Burdock becomes Haymitch’s only tether to a world he once knew until he just can’t be anymore. Kyle Allen has just what it takes to play Katniss Everdeen’s father and Haymitch’s closest friend.
Jenna Burgess as Asterid March
Yes, we’ve got another Yellowjackets star in our dream cast! Jenna Burgess has become a standout as young Melissa in the wilderness. Hilary Swank plays adult Melissa in Season 3, but we think Burgess looks much more like a young Paula Malcomson, who played Katniss’ mother in the original Hunger Games trilogy. Asterid March’s role is small in Sunrise on the Reaping, but she’s a notable figure in Haymitch’s life when he returns home.
Ellie Thatcher as Merrilee Donner
Did you know that Sophie Thatcher has an identical twin? Since we believe Sophie would make a phenomenal Maysilee Donner, who would be better to play her character’s twin, Merrilee, than her real-life sister? Ellie Thatcher is a visual artist with a single acting credit; however, family ties are an incredibly important aspect of The Hunger Games universe and having actual sisters play Maysilee and Merrilee would absolutely warrant Ellie stepping into the small role.
