‘Hunger Games’: Your Guide to Every New & Returning Character in ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ (PHOTOS)
The odds are ever in our favor, The Hunger Games fans, because The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping trailer is here, and it looks absolutely phenomenal. Seriously, can November 20 get here any faster?!
During the trailer, Lionsgate gives viewers their first full look at younger versions of beloved characters from the original series, including Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, and Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman. The trailer also features newcomers to the franchise, including McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, and Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow.
The trailer also answered many of our burning questions heading into the movie. So, do Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson appear in the trailer? Who plays Maysilee’s twin, Merrilee Donner? And, will any of the returning characters play a larger role in the movie than they do in the book?
Below, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about the cast and characters of Sunrise on the Reaping, and what role they take in Haymitch’s games. (Book spoilers ahead!)
Sunrise on the Reaping, In Theaters, November 20, Lionsgate
Haymitch Abernathy
At the heart of Sunrise on the Reaping is Haymitch, played by Joseph Zada. Known for playing Johnny Sinclair in We Were Liars last summer, Zada is a newcomer to the franchise, stepping into the role of a beloved character. In the trailer, viewers got their first taste of Zada’s accent for the role, and his gut-wrenching love story with Lenore Dove (Whitney Peak).
Rumor has it that Woody Harrelson will also appear in the movie, reprising his role as present-day Haymitch for the final scene that depicts the book’s epilogue. Fingers crossed!
Lenore Dove Baird
Before the Games, Haymitch is going steady with Lenore Dove Baird, a member of the Covey, the nomadic people whom we got to know during The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. As Lenore Dove shares a last name with Rachel Zegler‘s character, Lucy Gray Baird, fans have theorized that she is Lucy Gray’s cousin, Maude Ivory Baird’s (Vaughan Reilly) daughter. She is played by Whitney Peak, who viewers may remember from the HBO Max revival of Gossip Girl.
President Snow
During Sunrise on the Reaping, viewers get to see President Snow in yet another stage of his life, played by Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes. Between the ages of Tom Blyth and Donald Sutherland‘s Snows, Fiennes’ character continues Snow’s arc, proving he is definitely not over the whole Lucy Gray thing.
Before pretending he’s the only man to ever have a situationship in the Sunrise on the Reaping trailer, Snow tells Haymitch, “I bet I know a thing or two about you.” He then (correctly) presumes that Haymitch is in love with a woman from District 12 and tells him, “Now, you are on your own.” Projecting much?
Plutarch Heavensbee
While Plutarch Heavensbee, originally played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, is the Head Gamemaker in Catching Fire, viewers get to see a new side of the OG rebel in Sunrise on the Reaping. Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad, Bugonia) plays young Plutarch, who serves as a cameraman during the District 12 reaping. During the trailer, he tells the District 12 tributes, “Presentation is everything.”
Maysilee Donner
While Maysilee Donner, played by McKenna Grace (Regretting You), is one of Haymitch’s three fellow District 12 tributes, the two could not come from more different backgrounds. While Haymitch is from the Seam, Maysilee lives in the merchant side, above her parents’ sweets shop. Maysilee Donner is also the original owner of Katniss’ mockingjay pin.
Wyatt Callow
We only get a glimpse of Wyatt Callow, played by Ben Wang of Karate Kid: Legends, during the trailer. However, the oddsmaker plays a large role in Haymitch’s story as the other male tribute from District 12.
Louella McCoy/Lou Lou
Don’t be fooled, these are two different kids. Twelve-year-old Louella McCoy (Molly McCain) joins Haymitch, Maysilee, and Wyatt as the fourth District 12 tribute in the 50th Hunger Games. However, in the book, after a massive accident during the Tribute Parade, Louella is swapped out for Lou Lou (Iona Bell). During the trailer, Lou Lou can be seen with a snake around her neck before the tribute’s appearance on Caesar Flickerman’s show.
Ampert Latier
Another young tribute, Ampert Latier (Percy Daggs IV of Paradise), gets to know Haymitch very well during training. Wise beyond his years, Ampert is the son of beloved Catching Fire tribute Beetee Latier (Jeffrey Wright), who also appears in Sunrise on the Reaping. We’re going to need some tissues for this one! (Also, for all the Veronica Mars fans out there, Percy is the son of Percy Daggs III, aka Wallace!)
Drusilla Sickle
Drusilla Sickle walked so Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) could run. During the 50th Hunger Games, the District 12 escort is Drusilla, played by acting legend Glenn Close. While Drusilla is just as extravagant and ignorant as Effie was in The Hunger Games, she is far more mean-spirited.
Effie Trinket
Baddie alert! For Sunrise on the Reaping, Elle Fanning (The Great) is stepping into Elizabeth Banks’ shoes as Effie Trinket. Taking over for Magno Stift (Billy Porter), the District 12 stylist, Effie plays a major role in marketing Haymitch to potential sponsors. While she doesn’t play too big a role in the book, she is seen many times throughout the trailer.
Proserpina & Vitus
Of course, Effie steps in as the District 12 stylist because her younger sister, Proserpina (Iris Apatow), is part of the prep team. Much like Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) and Portia (Latarsha Rose), Proserpina and dimple-piercing-clad Vitus (Edvin Ryding) play a key role in the District 12 tributes’ pre-arena days.
Beetee Latier
Sixteen years after his own Hunger Games, Beetee Latier, originally played by Jeffrey Wright, is forced to return as mentor for the 50th Hunger Games, in which his 12-year-old son, Ampert (Daggs), is a tribute. Much like the 75th Hunger Games, young Beetee, who is portrayed by Kelvin Harrison Jr. from Elvis, plays a key role in attempting to break the arena.
Wiress
Dare we say, some of the best casting of a prequel character? Maya Hawke (Stranger Things) enters Panem as young Wiress, who was originally played by Amanda Plummer in Catching Fire. Long before the 75th Hunger Games and just a year after winning her own Games, Wiress serves as one of the District 12 mentors since they do not have any (living) victors from the district to do so themselves.
Mags Flanagan
District 12’s other mentor, Mags Flanagan, played by The Conjuring actress Lili Taylor, is only seen for a split second during the trailer, when she hugs Haymitch with her eyes closed after the Tribute Parade. As the victor of the 11th Hunger Games, Mag is likely the longest-running mentor of the bunch. During Catching Fire, she is played by Lynn Cohen.
Caesar Flickerman
Did Caesar Flickerman tone down his image over the years? While Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) played Master of Ceremonies Caesar Flickerman in the original trilogy, Kieran Culkin is taking on the younger version of the role in the most extra way possible in Sunrise on the Reaping.
Willamae & Sid Abernathy
Haymitch’s family is brought to life by Kara Tointon (EastEnders)and Smylie Bradwell (Hamnet) in Sunrise on the Reaping. While his dad died when he was young, Haymitch’s mom is a laundry worker in the Seam. His younger brother, Sid, is only 10 when he is reaped into the Games.
Merrilee Donner
Viewers also got a first look at Maysilee’s twin sister, Merrilee Donner, during the funeral scene in the trailer. Now we know for certain that McKenna Grace will also be playing Merrilee. How very Parent Trap of them.
Katniss & Peeta
Ever since readers finished the book, the big question on everyone’s minds has been: Will Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson return as Katniss and Peeta for the epilogue scene of Sunrise on the Reaping? While they do not appear in the trailer, Deadline previously confirmed that the OG actors will be returning to reprise their roles in the upcoming movie. Thank goodness!
