The Hunger Games Is Back: Here's Who We Think Should Play Haymitch In 'Sunrise On The Reaping'

By Zoe Zeng on 24 Mar 2025

Fans of The Hunger Games franchise, listen up! Suzanne Collins has just dropped her latest novel Sunrise On The Reaping, and its film adaptation is already set to make its way into theatres on 20 November 2026. This prequel tells the origin story of Haymitch Abernathy, the winner of the 50th Hunger Games and Katniss's mentor from District 12.

Photo from Lionsgate Films

What's extra interesting about this instalment is the scale of Haymitch's games. Set 24 years before Katniss steps up to the arena, young Haymitch has to fight in a Quarter Quell — a special edition of the Hunger Games held every 25 years that come with special (read: more terrible) rules.

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Instead of reaping two contestants from every district, the cruel Gamemakers of the 50th Games pick four children from each district to fight to the death. Yes, that means we will see Haymitch take on not 23, but 47 contestants, with three of them being his fellow District 12 residents. Talk about double the trauma. In fact, the 50th Games were so brutal, it went down as the bloodiest games in Panem's history.

Photo from Lionsgate Films

Now, here's the question we're all dying to know: who is going to play sixteen‐year‐old Haymitch? American actor Woody Harrelson, who plays the older version of the character, rocks a head of golden blonde hair and piercing blue eyes — two characteristics casting directors will certainly keep in mind.

English actor Tom Glynn-Carney is one popular pick among fans, having garnered popularity from his role in House of the Dragon as Aegon II Targaryen.

German actor Louis Hofmann of Dark and All The Light We Cannot See fame is another promising fancast, thanks to his squarish jaw and distinct features that resemble Harrelson's Haymitch.

On the other hand, some fans have argued that Glynn-Carney and Hofmann would be too old to play the teenage Haymitch, as they will be around 30-31 and 27-28 years old respectively by the time of filming. Some younger actors who are also speculated to be on the shortlist include Walker Scobell, Kit Connor, Edvin Ryding, and Louis Partridge.

Beyond the physical aspects, Haymitch is a very complex character who has a startling charisma (even as a much older man) and a darkly mischievous sense of humour. As a mentor he is sly and cunning, hinting at a player who was not only smart but also strategic during his own games.

Photo from Lionsgate Films

As producer Nina Jacobson quips in an interview with Variety "[...] you don’t want somebody who’s impersonating Woody, but you want somebody who very credibly feels like they could be a young version of this character, before the trauma and grief and rage that the fallout of the Games create.”