Summary
- The new Hunger Games prequel film, Sunrise on the Reaping, will be released in theaters on November 20, 2026 with a new actor playing 16-year-old Haymitch.
- Actors like Louis Hofmann and Taz Skylar, who resemble Woody Harrelson, could be strong choices for the role.
- With Woody Harrelson's iconic performance in the original Hunger Games films, it will be difficult to find someone who can fill his shoes as a younger version of Haymitch.
With the announcement of a new Woody Harrelson is such a vital part of The Hunger Games franchise, so it can be hard to imagine someone else stepping into the role, but several actors could properly take on the challenge.
Coming off the success of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, there’s more hype for the long-awaited Haymitch prequel than ever before. The story of Haymitch and the 50th Games has been touched upon briefly in The Hunger Games books and films, but Sunrise on the Reaping is the first time the franchise will explore it in depth. Just as Tom Blyth brought a young President Snow (the older version was played by Donald Sutherland) to life in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, another actor can do the same with Haymitch.
10 Louis Hofmann
Know for Dark and All the Light We Cannot See
A popular fancast on social media for Young Haymitch in the Hunger Games prequel is 26-year-old German actor Louis Hofmann. One X even tweeted, “louis hofmann to play young haymitch and nobody else” in reaction to the film’s announcement. Hofmann bears a strong resemblance to Harrelson, which would make his transformation into a younger version easily believable for the audience.
The actor playing Haymitch would also have to be physically strong to win the Games, with the role making physical demands. Hofmann has proven himself capable through his portrayals of a prisoner of war in Land of Mine (2015) and a soldier in All The Light We Cannot See (2023). In these historical dramas, Hofmann’s characters deal with difficult, life-threatening circumstances while trying to remain hopeful for survival and a brighter future. With these roles under his belt, Hofmann would be a strong choice for Haymitch in the Hunger Games prequel.
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9 Taz Skylar
Known for One Piece
By being cast for Netflix’s live-action One Piece series (2023-present), Taz Skylar has already brought a popular pre-established character to the screen in a different way. For the Netflix show, the 28-year-old Spanish and British actor changed his look to play Sanji, who also shares a resemblance with Haymitch. While One Piece isn’t Skylar’s first role, it’s his most notable. It also proves he’d make a great Young Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping.
Sanji is calm and cool, similar to Haymitch, who remains levelheaded through everything thrown his way. His character also possesses Haymitch’s cleverness, which won him his Games, as he outsmarted the only other tribute left standing. Skylar also displays the charisma Harrelson oozes in The Hunger Games films. Even when he can be abrasive and short with people, which is a part of his character that probably didn’t develop until later in life, it’s hard not to be drawn to Haymitch. The same can be said for Skylar’s performance.
8 Ewan Mitchell
Known for House of the Dragon and The Last Kingdom
An actor in a different prequel who could take on the role of Young Haymitch is Ewan Mitchell, who plays Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon (2022-present). Mitchell plays Aemond with a serious disposition that would show off a different side of a young Haymitch, as he faced what he may have believed to be sure death. He also has a frightening drive that would have helped Haymitch become the last man standing in The Hunger Games. This would also be fitting for Haymitch’s character post-Games when he loses his family and any innocence he still could have had.
The Targaryens in Game of Thrones are known for their long flowing blonde hair. While 27-year-old Mitchell uses a wig for House of the Dragon, his own hair is still quite similar to Haymitch’s. His angular features occasionally help him appear more menacing, which would also work for Sunrise on the Reaping.
7 Harris Dickinson
Known for Triangle of Sadness and The Iron Claw
Harris Dickinson had another breakthrough performance recently as David Von Erich in A24’s The Iron Claw (2023). For this role, Dickinson had to get into fighting shape, which could be a bonus when playing Haymitch. Harris played him from his wrestling debut at 21 to his tragic death at 25. He is portrayed as a great showman, which may draw more similarities to Peeta than Haymitch. Yet, Haymitch was the one who nurtured and guided Peeta towards that strategy in The Hunger Games, suggesting he used similar tactics during his own Games.
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Dickinson also has experience playing a character thrown into battle from his performance in The King’s Man (2021). Rather than being reaped like Haymitch, his character goes against his father’s wishes to fight in the Great War. The rebelliousness and desire to blaze his own trail can also seen in Haymitch, which Dickinson could tap back into in his Hunger Games prequel film.
6 Judah Lewis
Known for The Babysitter and The Christmas Chronicles
Judah Lewis began acting as a young teenager and is one of the younger options on this list at 22, making him a more appropriate choice to play 16-year-old Haymitch in The Hunger Games prequel. This would put him closer in age to Jennifer Lawrence, who was 20 when she was cast in the first Hunger Games film. Lewis has appeared in a variety of films, including black comedy slasher The Babysitter (2017) and its sequel, The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020), in which he plays a boy who discovers his babysitter is trying to kill him.
Though they were comedic horror movies, The Babysitter films allowed Lewis to show off his acting chops. Within the comedy, Lewis’ character grappled with PTSD. If Sunrise on the Reaping plans to follow the storytelling of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by focusing on the aftermath of the Games as well, Haymitch’s own PTSD would likely be explored.
5 Damian Hardung
Known For The Most Beautiful Girl In The World & Maxton Hall – The World Between Us
25-year-old German actor Damian Hardung made his acting debut at 12 years old with roles in German short films before getting his first leading role in 2013’s Clara and the Secret of the Bears. Most of his work has been in German projects, which means the dialogue is also in German, but according to his resume, he speaks five languages, including English.
Hardung’s most popular project was also his most recent, the German-language miniseries Maxton Hall – The World Between Us (2024) on Amazon Prime Video. It was the most successful launch of a non-American Prime Original series in the platform’s history. Maxton Hall was about a private high school, proving Hardung could play younger than his age. Though he played the privileged James, while Haymitch grew up in the poor District 12, he carries the necessary charisma. Additionally, Hardung’s Maxton Hall character was a star athlete, giving him the physicality needed for the Hunger Games arena.
4 Luke Eisner
Known For Tall Girl & Timeline
Luke Eisner, a 27-year-old actor, may not have the amount of experience some others on the list have, but he certainly fits the Haymitch look. His gorgeous long blonde hair would make him the perfect Haymitch aesthetically. In addition to acting, he works as a model. Eisner could easily turn young Haymitch into a teen heartthrob, similar to what Josh Hutcherson did with Peeta in the original Hunger Games films.
Eisner’s biggest role to date came as the lead romantic interest, Stig, in Netflix’s Tall Girl (2019) and its sequel, Tall Girl 2 (2022). The same year Tall Girl was released, Eisner had his first major role on television, playing Taylor in Timeline (2019). Though the success of Tall Girl made Eisner a famous face to a certain demographic, his being relatively unknown could help make him a convincing young Haymitch.
3 Owen Teague
Known For It & Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
At just 25, American actor Owen Teague has a long filmography. Teague made his television debut at 14 years old as a guest star in the pilot of Malibu Country. From there, he guest starred in multiple series before earning a recurring role on Bloodline (2015-2017). The year Bloodline ended was a big year for Teague, as he appeared in Black Mirror and It. In these projects, Teague played darker characters, showing the acting range necessary for Hunger Games films.
Teague also starred as the main character in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), proving he can lead big films. Teague plays a chimpanzee in the film, so it doesn’t show off how he fits the look of Haymitch. However, his other roles exemplify how he can be a believable young Haymitch through his appearance and acting talents.
2 Rudy Pankow
Known For Outer Banks & Uncharted
25-year-old Alaskan actor Rudy Pankow is already playing a 16-year-old in his most famous role, JJ Maybank in the Netflix series Outer Books (2020-present). JJ is a complex character due to his mixture of recklessness and loyalty to his friends. Like Haymitch, JJ also has a dark backstory, with his father abusing him. Haymitch also has his own reckless streak in The Hunger Games, often not caring what others think of him, which could have been developed during the second Quarter Quell.
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Pankow’s other most-known role was Sam in Uncharted (2022) as the long-lost younger brother of Tom Holland’s character Nathan. It wasn’t a large role, but he made an impact. Once again, Pankow played a teenager in the film. Pankow’s popularity with teen audiences through Outer Banks could be another box office draw for Sunrise on the Reaping.
1 Walker Scobell
Known For The Adam Project & Percy Jackson And The Olympians
The youngest actor on this list by far is 15-year-old Walker Scobell, who recently had his breakout role as the titular character in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Though he is currently younger than Haymitch’s character would be in the prequel, he will be 17 by the time the film is released, and would likely be 16/17 during filming. Scobell also recently went through a growth spurt from 5’1” to 5’7,” which helps make him look a bit older.
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As Percy, Scobell has shown great range in his performance, with brilliant comedic timing, strong action sequences, and highly emotional scenes. This will all be required to play Haymitch. Scobell being on the younger side could help emphasize just how horrible the Games are, with children being sent to kill or be killed in the arena. Scobell could bring some youthfulness to Haymitch, while also playing on his more jaded side that will come with time in Sunrise on the Reaping.
Sources: Subtitle Talent
- Created by
- Suzanne Collins
- First Film
- The Hunger Games
- Cast
- Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman
- Movie(s)
- The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Hunger Games is a multi-movie franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The films are based on the young adult dystopian book series by author Suzanne Collins. The first film was released in 2012, followed by Catching Fire in 2013, Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014, and Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015. In 2023, the fifth film in the series was released, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
