Sunrise on the Reaping’ Cast with Original Stars

Haymitch Abernathy: Woody Harrelson and Joseph Zada

Harrelson played Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark’s (Josh Hutcherson) mentor Haymitch Abernathy for all four of the original Hunger Games movies — and joked that through modern technology, he could do so again. 

In a March 2025 interview with ScreenRant, the Cheers alum quipped that he would reprise the teenage version of his iconic role in Sunrise on the Reaping using artificial intelligence, adding that it wasn’t “that long ago” since he’d been 16.

In reality, Zada was tapped to star in the 2025 prequel, which follows a young Haymitch who’s chosen as District 12’s tribute for the 50th Hunger Games. 

The Australian actor led the series adaptation of Holden Sheppard’s book Invisible Boys in 2025 and was cast alongside Florence Pugh and Mike Faist in the upcoming Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel East of Eden.

Plutarch Heavensbee: Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jesse Plemons

In what would be one of his final roles before he died of acute mixed drug intoxication in 2014, Philip Seymour Hoffman played gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee in Catching Fire and both parts of Mockingjay. Plemons will take on the role in the prequel film.

The casting choice marks a full-circle moment for The Power of the Dog actor, who acted opposite Hoffman in the 2012 drama The Master. 

“We are honored that he has chosen to bring his own take to one of the most fascinating figures in Panem, and feel that his previous collaboration with Philip Seymour Hoffman makes it all the more special,” co-president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Erin Westerman said in a statement.

She continued, “His Plutarch will be both a tribute to the character fans have already come to know and a portrayal he makes his own. We can’t wait for audiences to see it.”

Beetee Latier: Jeffrey Wright and Kelvin Harrison Jr.

Jeffrey Wright played the brainy Beetee Latier in Catching Fire and Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2, but the District 3 tribute was far from the first iconic role the actor helmed. Prior to joining the Hunger Games franchise, he was best known for his portrayal of CIA operative Felix Leiter in the James Bond films. 

Though Wright told the New York Post in November 2024 that he would give “serious consideration” to returning to the series, the former victor will be played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., in Sunrise on the Reaping. 

The actor portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in the anthology series Genius and voiced Taka in the 2024 Lion King prequel Mufasa.

Wiress: Amanda Plummer and Maya Hawke

In the 2013 film Catching Fire, Amanda Plummer was cast as the eccentric Wiress, who suffered a mental breakdown after winning the 49th Hunger Games.

Before the role, the long-time actress won a Tony Award for her performance in Agnes of God in 1982, and played Honey Bunny in the 1994 cult classic Pulp Fiction. The late Christopher Plummer, who died in 2021, was her father.   

In May 2025, Deadline reported that Hawke would play the younger version of the character. Similar to her Wiress predecessor, she also comes from Hollywood royalty as the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke. 

The actress is also known for her roles in Stranger Things, Asteroid City and as the voice of Anxiety in Inside Out 2.

Mags Flanagan: Lynn Cohen and Lili Taylor

Lynn Cohen was cast in Catching Fire as Mags Flanagan, a tribute from District 4 who won the 11th Hunger Games. The actress — best known for playing Magda for three seasons of Sex and the City — died in 2020. 

Outer Range star Lili Taylor will take over the role of Mags in Sunrise on the Reaping. In addition to acting in notable projects like The Conjuring and Mystic Pizza, the actress also published a book of essays in 2025 titled Turning to Birds.  

President Coriolanus Snow: Donald Sutherland, Tom Blyth and Ralph Fiennes

For all four Hunger Games films, the late Donald Sutherland starred as the manipulative and all-powerful dictator, President Snow. The Emmy-winning actor died in 2024 following a long illness. 

Lionsgate announced in May 2025 that Ralph Fiennes would play the antagonist in the 2025 prequel. Producer Nina Jacobson said in a statement that they hoped to honor Sutherland “by having one of this generation’s greatest actors play President Snow.”

“Working with Ralph has been on my bucket list since he traumatized me for life in Schindler’s List,” she said. “It’s genuinely a thrill to welcome him to the Hunger Games.”

Tom Blyth also played teenage President Snow in the 2023 film The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which served as the villain’s origin story.

Effie Trinket: Elizabeth Banks and Elle Fanning

Outside of Katniss and Peeta, no role in the Hunger Games franchise was as iconic as that of Elizabeth Banks’ Effie Trinket. The Pitch Perfect actress played the flamboyantly fashionable Capitol chaperone for all four Hunger Games films until 2015.

“From the moment Suzanne released the book, one question echoed from fans around the world: Who will play Effie?” Westerman told The Hollywood Reporter in May 2025, after announcing that Elle Fanning would take over the role. 

She continued, “Elizabeth Banks made her iconic — so who could honor that legacy while bringing us back to Effie’s early, most formative days? For us, there was only one answer … [Fanning] was the undeniable fan favorite from the start, and we’re honored she answered the call.” 

Banks congratulated the actress on her Instagram Stories, reposting the casting announcement from the film’s official account with a string of heart emojis. 

Caesar Flickerman: Stanley Tucci and Kieran Cullkin

Stanley Tucci originated the role of Caesar Flickerman, a Capitol newscaster who has a flair for the dramatic — and is (lovingly) out of touch.

Though Tucci’s portrayal is a fan favorite, Sunrise on the Reaping‘s Flickerman will be played by none other than Kieran Culkin, who people fan-cast to take on the role since the announcements started rolling out.

Culkin is best known for playing the foul-mouthed, charismatic Roman Roy on Succession and most recently won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his work in 2024’s A Real Pain.