‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Casts Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove

Hunger Games fans are thrilled as actor Joseph Zada has been cast to star as Haymitch Abernathy in *The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping*, while Whitney Peak will portray his girlfriend Lenore Dove Baird. The film, directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Billy Ray, will be released on November 20, 2026, and is set to explore Panem's history 40 years after *The Ballads of Songbirds & Snakes* and before Katniss Everdeen’s arena days. The project has garnered praise for its casting choices, with Erin Westerman highlighting Zada and Peak’s performances as "the perfect actors" bringing depth to Haymitch and Lenore.