Sunrise on the Reaping marks the return of several noteworthy Hunger Games characters, who we can expect to see with the movie adaptation hitting theaters in November 2026. There is, of course, endless talk surrounding who could play a young Haymitch in the Sunrise on the Reaping movie, but plenty of new and old characters will need to be cast as well. Among Sunrise on the Reaping‘s surprises and plot twists was that Haymitch was mentored by Wiress of District 3 and Mags of District 4, while he also met Beetee during these Games.
In an attempt to ruin the 50th Hunger Games, Haymitch works with several characters who will play varying roles in the coming rebellion. All of these characters are about 25 years younger than when they first appeared in the series, given the timeline they are all in. However, despite this fact, I think Sunrise on the Reaping can and should bring back two brilliant Hunger Games actors from the old movies, who excelled at conveying the despicable pageantry of the Capitol while still making their characters fan favorites.
I Think Sunrise On The Reaping Can Get Away With Bringing Back Elizabeth Banks & Stanley Tucci
Banks & Tucci’s Performances In The Hunger Games Can’t Be Beaten
Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Lawrence may reprise their roles as Haymitch and Katniss for the epilogue, but Haymitch will have to be recast as a teenager. On the other hand, I believe it would be a hit if Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci returned as Effie Trinket and Caesar Flickerman, respectively. Effie turns out to be the older sister of a member of Haymitch’s prep team and lands a job as a tribute escort after she brings District 12 formal wear the night of their interview when their stylist fails to show.
Meanwhile, Caesar is already the master of ceremonies of the Hunger Games; Katniss comments in the books that he has been doing it for as long as she’s been alive and has a kind of disturbing agelessness about him. Admittedly, if the age gap is the same for everyone, it doesn’t make sense on paper to recast some people and not others. However, it is an established plot point that people in the Capitol get a lot of plastic surgery done, and Effie and Caesar are certainly the most heavily altered and made up of the lot.
Hunger Games Should Then Find New Actors for Mags, Wiress, Beetee, Plutarch, & Snow
It Would Be Harder For These Actors To Play Their Hunger Games Characters 25 Years Younger
Characters such as Mags, Wiress, Beetee, Plutarch, and President Snow’s ages are much more obvious, making recasts more necessary. Effie and Caesar’s ages are never really specified, and they both seem to be in the vague range of early to middle adulthood in the prequel and the original trilogy. But Wiress is a teenager in Sunrise on the Reaping, while Beetee and Mags are also probably both visibly younger. Additionally, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Lynn Cohen have all pᴀssed away, making whether they could still play their characters irrelevant.
Both Banks and Tucci were stellar in their roles as Capitol citizens who are so entrenched in the traditions of Panem that they don’t see the cruelty of it.
Moreover, both Banks and Tucci were stellar in their roles as Capitol citizens who are so entrenched in the traditions of Panem that they don’t see the cruelty of it yet still have some connection with the tributes. Both actors also nailed the over-the-top personalities, bringing some entertaining levity to the dark movies. And, ultimately, this is largely what their roles are in the prequel as well. The mentors and politicians will more likely have different characterizations at this point and time, and could benefit from new actors, despite the amazing work of the people who previously played them.
Who Should Star In Sunrise On The Reaping?
Hollywood Has Plenty Of Talent Who Would Be Stellar As Panem’s Leaders
There has been much speculation surrounding who could play President Snow in Sunrise on the Reaping, with the late Donald Sutherland’s son Kiefer Sutherland being a popular suggestion, but a different actor under less pressure to uphold his predecessor’s legacy might be a better choice. Now that we have confirmation of all the returning characters, there are plenty of options for the rest of the cast. Mags will likely go to another famous veteran actor, and I think Fiona Shaw would be excellent in the role, already carrying experience from major franchises like Harry Potter and Star Wars.
John Boyega has been suggested for Beetee, although Jeffrey Wright is perhaps the member of the victors’ cast who would be able to pᴀss if he returned. As Wiress is a teenager, producers will probably look to some of the big teens to 20s rising stars, and Millie Bobby Brown and Ella Purnell are never to be ignored. Jesse Plemons is a promising idea for Plutarch, but I would also put forward Ewan Mitchell. Whether Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci return and who ends up joining them, Sunrise on the Reaping is guaranteed to have a star-studded cast.
