Lionsgate unveiled its first look at young Haymitch Abernathy in "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping," the prequel arriving November 20. Joseph Zada takes on the iconic role that Woody Harrelson made famous across the original franchise, portraying the character during the Second Quarter Quell.
The studio released a "Meet Haymitch" promotional video on July 4 to mark the occasion. The promo spotlights Zada in the role, introducing audiences to a version of Haymitch before he became Katniss and Peeta's grizzled mentor. The prequel centers on the 50th Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell that haunted the character's backstory throughout the original saga.
Director Francis Lawrence returns to helm the prequel, bringing continuity to the franchise. Rachel Zegler stars as young Lucy Gray Baird, the character Suzanne Collins created for this specific story. The cast also includes Josh Andrés Rivera, Viola Davis, and Peter Dinklage.
"Sunrise on the Reaping" marks Lionsgate's second prequel installment following "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," which arrived last year with Tom Blyth as young President Snow. That film generated substantial box office returns, validating the studio's strategy of expanding the franchise beyond Katniss's story.
Zada's casting as young Haymitch generated interest from both longtime fans protective of Harrelson's legacy and newer audiences curious about the character's origins. The promo suggests the prequel will explore how Haymitch survived the brutality of the Games and the trauma that shaped his alcoholism and cynicism.
The November release date positions "Sunrise on the Re