Two major names have been added to the growing ensemble for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Lionsgate’s upcoming prequel has cast Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Gifted) as Maysilee Donner and Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog, Breaking Bad) as a young Plutarch Heavensbee.
The film, based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novel, is set for U.S. release on November 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence (Constantine, I Am Legend), who helmed three previous films in the franchise, is returning to direct from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray. Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson are producing, with Cameron MacConomy executive producing for Playtone.
A New Tribute from District 12
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Mckenna Grace will take on the role of Maysilee Donner, a fellow District 12 tribute and ally to Haymitch Abernathy during the deadly Fiftieth Hunger Games — better known to Panem as the Second Quarter Quell. Joseph Zada is playing the young Haymitch, with Whitney Peak set as Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird.
The part of Donner is said to have been one of the most sought-after roles during casting, with Deadline describing it as the closest comparison to the Katniss Everdeen role made famous by Jennifer Lawrence. Grace’s casting continues her streak of major projects, with recent credits including Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and the upcoming Scream 7.
A Familiar Name Returns to Panem
Meanwhile, Jesse Plemons has been cast as a young Plutarch Heavensbee, a character previously portrayed by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in Mockingjay — Parts 1 and 2. In Sunrise on the Reaping, audiences will meet Plutarch earlier in his life, capturing the reaping of the District 12 tributes.
“Jesse is one of the most talented actors of his generation, with a proven record of picking his roles selectively,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman said to Deadline. “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. His Plutarch will be both a tribute to the character fans have already come to know and a portrayal he makes his own.”
Plemons’ credits include Oscar-nominated roles in The Power of the Dog and Killers of the Flower Moon, with upcoming projects such as Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia and an untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu film.
Returning to the World of Panem
Sunrise on the Reaping takes place 24 years before the events of the original Hunger Games series. It focuses on the morning of the reaping for the Second Quarter Quell — the games that helped shape Haymitch Abernathy into the cynical mentor fans came to know. The book was released in March 2024 and sold 1.5 million copies in its first week across the U.S., UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
With the franchise having earned more than $3.3 billion at the global box office to date, it’s no surprise that Lionsgate is looking to continue the franchise. Stay tuned!
