By Guest 
Lionsgate has announced the casting of Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak as young Haymitch Abernathy and Lenore Dove Baird in “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” the highly anticipated prequel set to release in 2026.
Meet the New Faces of Panem
“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” has officially cast two of its lead roles, with Joseph Zada stepping into the iconic role of Haymitch Abernathy and Whitney Peak portraying Lenore Dove Baird. Lionsgate confirmed the news to E! News on April 23.
The upcoming prequel, based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novel, marks the sixth installment in the dystopian franchise. Set to hit theaters in November 2026, the film will explore the backstory of Haymitch—played by Woody Harrelson in the original series—as he navigates the brutal 50th Hunger Games.
Joseph Zada’s Rising Stardom
Zada, who will portray a young Haymitch, is no stranger to high-profile projects. In addition to this role, he’s set to appear in Amazon Prime’s “We Were Liars” (premiering June 2024) and Netflix’s “East of Eden.” He also starred in the book adaptation “Invisible Boys,” which debuted earlier this year.
Whitney Peak’s Breakout Role
Peak, known for her role as Zoya Lott in HBO Max’s “Gossip Girl” reboot, will play Lenore Dove Baird—Haymitch’s love interest in the prequel. The 22-year-old actress is also set to star in Sony Pictures’ shark thriller “Shiver” and Amazon MGM’s “4 Kids Walk into a Bank.”
Lionsgate’s High Praise for the Cast
Erin Westerman, co-president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, praised the casting choices in an April 23 statement: “Jo and Whitney carry the franchise’s legacy forward with incredible heart, depth, and fire.” She emphasized that Haymitch’s origin story is one of the most anticipated in the series, with his relationship with Lenore deeply woven into Panem’s history.
Looking Back at the Original Casting
The announcement of Zada and Peak follows the tradition of “The Hunger Games” launching young actors into stardom—much like Jennifer Lawrence’s breakout role as Katniss Everdeen. Lawrence, initially hesitant about the fame, was convinced by her mother to take the part, ultimately earning $500,000 for the first film and $10 million for the sequel.
Other notable casting stories include Josh Hutcherson beating out actors like Alexander Ludwig for Peeta Mellark, and Liam Hemsworth landing Gale Hawthorne after his brother Chris jokingly advised him to “lose weight” for “The Hunger Games, not The Eating Games!”
Behind-the-Scenes Challenges
From grueling training regimens to on-set accidents—like Lawrence accidentally knocking Hutcherson unconscious—the original films were as intense behind the scenes as they were on screen. The cast also endured extreme weather and even bears wandering onto set.
A Franchise That Redefined Blockbusters
The first “Hunger Games” film shattered box office records in 2012, grossing $152 million in its opening weekend. With “Sunrise on the Reaping” set to expand the saga, fans can expect another gripping chapter in Panem’s dark history.