‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Teaser Reveals Joseph Zada as Young Haymitch

Lionsgate released new promotional material on Saturday, July 4, for the upcoming film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, giving fans a fresh glimpse of young Haymitch Abernathy, portrayed by Joseph Zada.

To celebrate both the character’s birthday and Reaping Day, the studio unveiled a “Meet Haymitch” featurette. The film is set to premiere on November 20 and acts as a prequel to the original Hunger Games narrative, focusing on events that transpire decades before Katniss Everdeen steps into the arena.

The promotional clip highlights Haymitch during his formative years in Panem, long before he transforms into the tough mentor familiar to fans of 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 replies, “Not on my birthday. Never had one that came without a Reaping.”

The featurette also includes insights from Joseph Zada, along with comments from director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson. Other cast members such as Elle Fanning, McKenna Grace, Ben Wang, and Jesse Plemons appear in the promotional material, showcasing the ensemble nature of the project.

Set 24 years before the original Hunger Games, the film revisits the world of Panem, beginning on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, which is considered one of the most brutal editions of the deadly competition.

The screenplay is penned by Billy Ray and is based on Suzanne Collins’ novel. This prequel delves deeper into the franchise’s backstory, exploring how Haymitch became a victor in a version of the Games that would shape his future.

The cast also features Glenn Close, Billy Porter, Maya Hawke, Kieran Culkin, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lili Taylor, and Ralph Fiennes in supporting roles, enhancing the ensemble lineup.

Lionsgate has been generating excitement for the film through a series of short promos and character-focused teasers. This latest featurette is part of that ongoing campaign, offering audiences a closer look at how the younger Haymitch fits into the broader Hunger Games timeline.

In the original series, Haymitch was portrayed by Woody Harrelson, where the character became known for his survival skills and cynical demeanor shaped by his arena experiences.

With Sunrise on the Reaping, the franchise shifts its focus to his earlier life, revealing the events that led him into the role fans first encountered on screen.