‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Teaser Unveils Joseph Zada as Young Haymitch
Lionsgate promotional material released on Saturday, July 4, for the upcoming film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has offered fans a new look at young Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada.
The studio dropped a “Meet Haymitch” featurette to mark both the character’s birthday and Reaping Day. The film is set to release on November 20 and serves as a prequel to the original Hunger Games story, focusing on events decades before Katniss Everdeen enters the arena.
The promo centers on Haymitch during the early stages of his life in Panem, long before he becomes the hardened mentor fans know from the original films. In the featurette, his girlfriend Lenore Dove Baird, played by Whitney Peak, asks him, “Can you imagine the sun rising on a world without a Reaping?” Haymitch responds, “Not on my birthday. Never had one that came without a Reaping.”
The clip also includes commentary from Joseph Zada as well as director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson. Cast members Elle Fanning, McKenna Grace, Ben Wang, and Jesse Plemons also appear in the promotional material, highlighting the ensemble nature of the project.
The film revisits the world of Panem and is set 24 years before the events of the original Hunger Games. The story begins on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, one of the most brutal editions of the deadly competition.
The screenplay is written by Billy Ray and is based on Suzanne Collins’ novel. The prequel expands the franchise’s backstory, focusing on how Haymitch became a victor in a version of the Games that defined his future.
The cast also includes Glenn Close, Billy Porter, Maya Hawke, Kieran Culkin, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lili Taylor, and Ralph Fiennes in supporting roles, adding more weight to the ensemble lineup.
Lionsgate has been steadily building anticipation for the film through short promos and character-focused teasers. This latest featurette is part of that ongoing campaign, giving audiences a closer look at how the younger version of Haymitch fits into the larger Hunger Games timeline.
The original version of Haymitch was portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the main series, where the character became known for his survival skills and cynical attitude shaped by his experience in the arena.
With Sunrise on the Reaping, the franchise shifts its focus to his earlier life, showing the events that led him into the role fans first met on screen.
