Joseph Zada will portray Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping, while Whitney Peak joins the cast as Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s girlfriend, with the announcement confirmed by Erin Westerman, co-president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, as the film gears up for its worldwide release on 20 November 2026.
Figure 1: Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak to star in The Hunger Games
Return to Panem’s Earlier Chapter
The upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ bestseller revisits Panem 24 years before the original Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping for the Fiftieth Hunger Games, which became known as the Second Quarter Quell, and follows Haymitch’s experience as a tribute from District 12 during one of the bloodiest chapters in Capitol history.
Francis Lawrence to Direct Once More
Francis Lawrence, who directed several past instalments of the franchise, will return to helm the film from a screenplay written by Billy Ray, while production duties will be handled by Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, with Cameron MacConomy attached as executive producer for Lionsgate’s latest addition to the expanding Hunger Games universe.
Franchise Continues Box Office Dominance
The Hunger Games franchise has already earned over USD 3.3 billion globally, with Sunrise on the Reaping adding fresh momentum to its legacy by selling 1.5 million copies in its first week across the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, including 1.2 million copies sold in the U.S. alone, doubling the launch week sales of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and tripling those of Mockingjay.
Westerman Highlights Zada and Peak’s Casting Impact
Erin Westerman praised the casting decision in an official statement, saying “The Hunger Games franchise has long been a launching pad for remarkable young actors, and Jo and Whitney carry that legacy forward with incredible heart, depth, and fire,” and further explaining that “after auditioning hundreds of gifted performers from around the world, these two stood out—not just for their talent, but for the emotional truth they brought to these iconic roles,” adding that “Haymitch has always been a fan favorite, and his origin story is one of the most anticipated in the franchise,” and that “his relationship with Lenore Dove is deeply woven into the emotional history of Panem,” before concluding, “We can’t wait for fans to experience the story that shaped one of the most compelling characters in the series.”
Jacobson Reflects on Extensive Talent Search
Producer Nina Jacobson also commented on the casting process, saying “Deb Zane and Dylan Jury oversaw an exhaustive (and exhausting!) search to find a young actor with the skill and imagination to embody young Haymitch,” and noted that “Jo prepared like crazy and stole our hearts,” while adding that “Whitney took our breath away as Lenore Dove,” and sharing that “when we put the two of them together, it was one of those magical casting moments when you know your search has led you home.”
Zada’s Rising Profile in Film and Television
Joseph Zada continues to expand his screen presence, as he will soon appear in Amazon Prime’s upcoming series We Were Liars, premiering this June, and has just completed filming Netflix’s East of Eden, a limited series based on John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel, where he stars alongside Florence Pugh, Mike Faist, Martha Plimpton, Tracy Letts and Chris Abbott, with Zoe Kazan writing and executive producing the seven-episode adaptation, while Zada will also lead in Invisible Boys, a Stan Australia Original Series based on Holden Sheppard’s award-winning novel.
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Whitney Peak’s Expanding Film Portfolio
Whitney Peak, known for her lead role as Zoya Lott in Max’s reboot of Gossip Girl, will next be seen starring in Sony Pictures’ shark thriller Shiver alongside Phoebe Dynevor, and will also appear with Liam Neeson and Teresa Palmer in 4 Kids Walk into a Bank, produced by Amazon MGM’s Orion label, adding to her credits that already include Hocus Pocus 2, where she starred with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimi.
Production Oversight and Legal Representation
Lionsgate executives Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien are overseeing the film’s development, with Robert Melnik having negotiated the key deals for the studio, while Joseph Zada is represented by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, RGM, and Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson & Christopher, and Whitney Peak is represented by CAA, Canopy Media Partners, Play Management, The Initiative Group and the law firm Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein.
