With casting announcements being made for Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, franchise star Rachel Zegler, who played District 12 victor Lucy Gray Baird, shares a heartwarming message to one of its stars. Since the release of the book in March, there have been intense discussions about who would play key characters in the prequel movie about Haymitch Abernathy’s Hunger Games. In the last few days, several key castings for Sunrise on the Reaping have been announced, including Joseph Zada as Haymitch, McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, and Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove.

Recently, on her Instagram Stories (via Cinemablend), Zegler shared her reaction to the latest casting news. In a simple sentence, she stated: “i know she’s gonna do the Baird name proud.” This is followed by a heart emoji and a tag on Peak’s Instagram. In addition, the former Hunger Games star recently commented on Jesse Plemons’ casting as Plutarch Heavensbee, calling it “GOATED CASTING.“

Why Zegler Particularly Commented On Peak’s Casting As Lenore Dove

Their Characters Are Related In The Hunger Games World, But The Details Are Murky

The new Hunger Games book confirms that Zegler’s Lucy Gray and Peak’s Lenore are related through the Baird family. However, the exact circumstances of their bloodline are unclear, with Lenore primarily being raised by her two adoptive uncles. There is a circulating theory that Lenore is possibly the daughter of Maude Ivory, who was a cousin to Lucy Gray. Despite the mystery, both characters have a clear connection, especially with Lenore following the similar traditions of Covey. Lenore would even add scraps of Lucy Gray’s dress to her clothing as a way to honor her memory.

Like her possible blood relative, Lenore is a key player in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel movie. She is Haymitch’s girlfriend and has consistently rebelled against the Capitol, leading to even a few arrests. On the other hand, Lucy Gray’s fate following Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes remains a mystery in the new prequel, although she is mentioned several times throughout the book. It’s unlikely that Zegler will reprise her role, but it’s possible that old footage from the 10th Hunger Games could be featured in the prequel movie.

Our Take On Zegler’s Message

I Love This Support!

I love Zegler’s support for Peak, and that should only hype fans leading up to the movie’s release in 2026. When Peak was announced as Lenore, not only did I love the casting choice, but I also noticed the resemblance between her and Zegler. That couldn’t be a pure coincidence, considering their characters are related, and I couldn’t help but believe this was done on purpose.

Nevertheless, the response to the casting has been very positive, and readers are excited to see how Peak depicts the rebellious District 12 citizen. I can’t wait to see her dynamic with Zada in Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and I have great faith that she will indeed make the Braid name proud.

Source: Rachel Zegler/Instagram (via Cinemablend)