Let another round of the Hunger Games begin. Instead of Katniss Everdeen, Sunrise on the Reaping is going back in time to focus on her mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, but fans can still expect her to return in some capacity.
On the latest episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Jennifer Lawrence expressed excitement at reprising the role for the first time in 11 years, calling it “unbelievable.”
“It was so crazy. It was the same crew. It was the same AD, who I’ve worked with a million times because I love him. And with Josh [Hutcherson] and Woody [Harrelson],” said the actor. “It was so emotional. Josh and I didn’t walk to the bathroom without our arms around each other. It was so beautiful.”
While it was previously reported that Lawrence and Hutcherson would reunite for a scene in the prequel film, the Harrelson name drop is new and should come as a pleasant surprise. The 65-year-old originally played Haymitch between 2012 and 2015, with Joseph Zada taking over the reins for a younger version of the character.
Based on Suzanne Collins’ novel, Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before the events of the first movie, following 16-year-old Haymitch as he competes in the 50th Hunger Games — the violent, bloody Second Quarter Quell that formed a defining chapter in his story – which enlists twice as many tributes in a fight to the death.
Francis Lawrence, who has directed every theatrical release since 2012’s Catching Fire, is back in the director’s chair, while Billy Ray wrote the screenplay. Zada is joined by Mckenna Grace and Ben Wang as his fellow District 12 tributes, alongside Ralph Fiennes, Kieran Culkin, and Elle Fanning as the younger versions of familiar characters. Other cast members include Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, and Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan.
The upcoming entry marks the sixth in the franchise, comprising four Lawrence-led outings and the 2023 prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which starred Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth. Collectively, the films have grossed US$3.3 billion worldwide to date.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will open in theatres on 20 November.
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
