What a year to be a Hunger Games fan.
When we got our hands on "Sunrise on the Reaping" back in 2025, we revisited the earlier books and recapped all of the iconic series characters who appeared in the new prequel, even if it was just a mention. What a cornucopia it was: We met Katniss' parents in their teens, saw the legacy of Lucy Gray Baird unfold and even glimpsed the Mockingjay herself.
Before the movie officially releases in theaters Nov. 20, we're giving you a refresher on how tried-and-true Hunger Games characters reappeared in the book and a glimpse at the actors playing them. "Sunrise on the Reaping" also introduces plenty of new characters for the 50th Hunger Games, like Drusilla Sickle (played by Glenn Close).
Haymitch Abernathy
Joseph Zada plays young
Haymitch in the movie, with Woody Harrelson reprising his role as older Haymitch.
Haymitch’s story is particularly brutal. Even before the first page, we already know how it ends. In “Mockingjay,” we learn that Snow had Haymitch’s mother, little brother and girlfriend killed in retribution for the way he made the Gamemakers look foolish when he won. We also know the way it propelled him into the jadedness and substance abuse we see in the original trilogy.
When “Sunrise” opens, Haymitch is less concerned with the reaping itself than celebrating his 16th birthday by shirking off his chores and hanging out with his girlfriend, Lenore Dove (Whitney Peak).
Haymitch is a particularly interesting character to explore the nature of authority – why we follow it and when we question it – says David Levithan, VP/publisher and editorial director at the series' publisher Scholastic.
“Katniss and, to a degree, with Snow, they start their stories with really nothing to lose. They are on the margins, they have no power and then over the course of their stories, they gain power,” Levithan told USA TODAY in 2025. “Haymitch is different in that he’s having a really good life and he is not looking to be a part of any apparatus. And then suddenly, by being thrust into the Games, he is in this power structure.”
Effie Trinket
As Haymitch and the other District 12 tributes arrive in the Capitol, they’re greeted by a ragtag duo of University students to style them, Proserpina and Vitus. When a fashion emergency arises, it’s none other than Effie Trinket, Proserpina’s older sister, who comes to save the day. Styling the District 12 tributes wins Effie a reputation in the Capitol.
Elle Fanning plays Effie in "Sunrise on the Reaping." Iris Apatow will play Proserpina and Edvin Ryding will play Vitus.
Plutarch Heavensbee
He's not Head Gamemaker here, but it’s not too far off given Plutarch’s eventual role creating propaganda for the rebellion. Plutarch Heavensbee plays a major role in “Sunrise on the Reaping” as a young cameraman shooting propaganda for President Snow.
Jesse Plemons takes over as Plutarch in "Sunrise," originally played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Wiress
The District 3 victor known in “Catching Fire” for figuring out the arena was a clock (“Tick, tock! Tick, tock!”) reappears in “Sunrise” as one of District 12’s mentors. We learn that she won last year’s Hunger Games by staying hidden and carefully maneuvering the arena filled with shiny surfaces as the other tributes went mad.
Maya Hawke is cast as Wiress.
Mags
You might remember Mags as the District 4 tribute in “Catching Fire” and Finnick Odair’s mentor. But in “Sunrise,” she joins Wiress to mentor the four District 12 tributes. Mags becomes a comfort to Haymitch and she and Wiress offer invaluable arena advice to the tributes.
Lili Taylor plays Mags.
Beetee
Intelligent and tech-savvy, Beetee was the brains behind the operation to blow up the Quarter Quell arena with Katniss and the others in “Catching Fire.” But 25 years earlier, he's tasked with mentoring and training tributes. We find out that Beetee's son, Ampert, is a District 3 tribute. Beetee and Haymitch develop a close relationship to try and stop the Games once and for all.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. will play Beetee.
Caesar Flickerman
The smooth-talking Hunger Games host returns briefly to interview the tributes ahead of the Games and later to interview Haymitch after he wins. After getting an abysmally low score in his training demonstration, Haymitch decides his strategy is to play up his bad boy, “rascal” charm. Caesar and the Capitol audience eat it up, of course.
Kieran Culkin takes over for Stanley Tucci as a younger Caesar.
Lucy Gray Baird
After he wins the Games, Haymitch watches an old clip on Capitol TV of a Covey girl singing what we “Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” fans know as “The Ballad of Lucy Gray Baird.” He also notices the silhouette of a young President Snow reaching his hand out to Lucy.
Because Lenore Dove is a Covey, many of the ballads and songs of the Covey people return in “Sunrise on the Reaping.” Rachel Zegler won't reprise her role in "Sunrise," but it's possible she could be mentioned.
Coriolanus Snow
President Snow appears in his usual threatening and eerie manner, eager to control the narrative and intimidate Haymitch as he did Katniss.
Ralph Fiennes will play President Snow.
Katniss Everdeen
Because the book is set 24 years before the events of 'The Hunger Games,' Katniss' brief appearance is only in the epilogue. The story flashes forward to post-rebellion society, where survivors of the war are collecting stories for a memorial book. Both Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson confirmed they will return for the movie.
Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, covering buzzy releases, chatting with authors and diving into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you’re reading at cmulroy@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is in 'Sunrise on the Reaping'? Here's your refresher ahead of the movie
