The Fourth of July is a special occasion in the US, but it takes on a different significance for Hunger Games fans. Not only is it Reaping Day, the annual event where tributes of the upcoming Games are chosen, but it’s also Haymitch Abernathy’s birthday, so it only makes sense that the latest featurette for The Hunger Games: Sunrise of the Reaper puts him into focus.
Titled ‘Meet Haymitch’, it opens with a peek into the bad hand life has dealt him, with his girlfriend Lenore Dove Baird (Whitney Peak) asking, “Can you imagine the sun rising on a world without a Reaping?” His response: “Not on my birthday. Never had one that came without a Reaping.”
Interspersed within the clip are discussions of the character by the cast and crew, as well as scenes ranging from Capitol interviews to dystopian action during the actual Games themselves. Stepping into the role this time is Joseph Zada (Invisible Boys), who takes over the reins from Woody Harrelson in the film trilogy, and joins a fresh ensemble portraying younger versions of familiar characters, including Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket (originally played by Elizabeth Banks), Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, and Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan.
Francis Lawrence, who has directed every theatrical release since 2012’s Catching Fire, is back at the helm, with Billy Ray penning the screenplay. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson serve as producers, alongside Cameron MacConomy as executive producer. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will also reprise their respective roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in the film, following their previous outing in 2015’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
Based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, Sunrise on the Reaping is set before the original trilogy, opening on the 50th Hunger Games — the violent, bloody Second Quarter Quell that formed a defining chapter in Haymitch’s story. Lawrence led the first five movies, while Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth starred in the President Snow-centric prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The prequel is slated for theatrical release on 20 November, with a logline that reads:
“Taking place 24 years before the first film, a young Haymitch Abernathy is selected to compete in the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, which occurs every 25 years with a twist to the rules. For this Quarter Quell, each district of Panem must send twice the number of tributes to the Capitol, who will fight to the death in the Hunger Games.“
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
