Woody Harrelson famously starred as Haymitch Abernathy in the first four the original Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins revisited the dystopian world and has since released two prequels — The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping. While the first book (which was adapted into a film released in 2023) revolves around President Coriolanus Snow before he rose to power in Panem, the second prequel explores Haymitch's origin story.

Lionsgate is set to release the movie adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping) in theaters on November 20, 2026.

Sunrise on the Reaping chronicles the Second Quarter Quell, the Hunger Games that Haymitch won. At 16, he was one of four tributes from District 12 reaped for the competition. Instead of the normal 24 tributes, the Capitol celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Games by sending twice as many children into the arena, including Haymitch. Since the story takes place 24 years before the events of the first Hunger Games book, Haymitch is a different character. Consequently, the actor they cast to play Haymitch in the movie adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping should also contrast Harrelson's portrayal of him.

The New Hunger Games Movie Is Missing The Point If It's Looking For Woody Harrelson's Haymitch

Sunrise On The Reaping Tells Haymitch's Origin Story

During an interview with Variety, producer Nina Jacobson discussed the casting for Haymitch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Thanks to Woody Harrelson's celebrated performance in the original Hunger Games films, finding someone to play a younger version of Haymitch is a delicate process. Jacobson explained:

"Nobody can be Woody Harrelson but Woody Harrelson. But you have to find that mischief that he has in him inherently and try to understand, if you turn back time, from the man you meet at the beginning of The Hunger Games, who he was before all of that, and why he became that."

Unfortunately, no names of potential candidates to portray young Haymitch have been leaked. However, if casting producers are searching for the next Harrelson, they would be missing the point of Haymitch's character in Sunrise on The Reaping entirely. No one should play Haymitch at 16 years old exactly like how Harrelson portrayed him in his forties in the first four Hunger Games movies.

Sunrise on the Reaping's interpretation of Haymitch is supposed to feel like a completely different character. The Hunger Games prequel reveals the person he was before he won the Second Quarter Quell and all the trauma that came with that, thanks to the Capitol. Of course, Haymitch's mischievousness was instilled in him at a young age. However, Haymitch wasn't yet the cynical man who fans met during the 74th Hunger Games in the first novel.

Why Sunrise On The Reaping's Young Haymitch Actor Should Feel Totally Different

Haymitch Was A Different Person Before The Second Quarter Quell

Without spoiling Sunrise on the Reaping, it's safe to say that Haymitch endured a lot of trauma at the hands of the Capitol after winning the 50th Hunger Games. So, this horrifying experience morphs him into a different person. Haymitch wasn't always a drunk, broken curmudgeon, which is why the Hunger Games movie's young Haymitch actor should separate his interpretation of the character from Woody Harrelson's.

Source: Variety