After weeks of Starvation Video games followers creating their supreme casts for the forthcoming movie adaptation of the Haymitch Abernathy centered prequel, Lionsgate has introduced who can be enjoying the movie’s leads.
Joseph Zada, 20, can be moving into the world for the Second Quarter Quell as District 12 tribute Haymitch Abernathy, whereas Whitney Peak, 22, will play his girlfriend Lenore Dove Baird in The Starvation Video games: Dawn on the Reaping.
The occasions of the prequel happen 24 years earlier than Katniss Everdeen volunteered for her sister, and 40 years after the occasions of the prequel The Ballads of Songbirds & Snakes, which adopted the evolution of antagonist Coriolanus Snow.
The Starvation Video games franchise, based mostly on the sequence of bestselling dystopian novels by Suzanne Collins, centered on 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who leads to the 74th Starvation Video games – a punishment designed to maintain districts surrounding the merciless and exploitative Capitol from rebelling once more, by forcing them to ship a boy and woman chosen by a lottery to take part in a actuality tv show-type contest that makes them struggle to the demise till one stays.
Readers first meet Haymitch, the protagonist of the forthcoming movie, within the first Starvation Video games novel and movie adaptation, because the perpetually drunk and bad-tempered mentor to the 2 “tributes”, Katniss and Peeta Mellark, earlier than they enter the video games. He was performed by Woody Harrelson, reverse Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta.
In Dawn on the Reaping, which was launched in March 2025, Haymitch is 16 years outdated when he finds himself the District 12 tribute for the fiftieth Starvation Video games. Lenore Dove Baird is Haymitch’s love curiosity within the books, and is from a nomadic group named the Covey.
“The Starvation Video games franchise has lengthy been a launching pad for outstanding younger actors, and Jo and Whitney carry that legacy ahead with unbelievable coronary heart, depth, and hearth,” Lionsgate Movement Image Group Co-President Erin Westerman stated.
“After auditioning lots of of gifted performers from around the globe, these two stood out – not only for their expertise, however for the emotional fact they introduced to those iconic roles. Haymitch has all the time been a fan favorite, and his origin story is without doubt one of the most anticipated within the franchise. His relationship with Lenore Dove is deeply woven into the emotional historical past of Panem. We will’t await followers to expertise the story that formed one of the vital compelling characters within the sequence.”
“Deb Zane and Dylan Jury oversaw an exhaustive (and exhausting!) search to discover a younger actor with the ability and creativeness to embody younger Haymitch. Jo ready like loopy and stole our hearts. Then Whitney took our breath away as Lenore Dove. Once we put the 2 of them collectively, it was a type of magical casting moments when you understand your search has led you house.”
The movie can be directed by Francis Lawrence, who helmed all of the movies within the Starvation Video games universe barring the primary, and the script can be written by Billy Ray.
Zada is at present enjoying the lead function within the Stan Australia Authentic Collection Invisible Boys, based mostly on the bestselling novel by Holden Sheppard. He’ll seem subsequent within the Prime Video sequence We Have been Liars in June, alongside Emily Alyn Lind, and Netflix’s East of Eden, alongside Florence Pugh.
Peak is understood for her lead function as Zoya Lott in Max’s Gossip Lady reboot and was additionally in Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She can be seen subsequent in Shiver, reverse Phoebe Dynevor, and 4 Youngsters Stroll right into a Financial institution, with Liam Neeson and Teresa Palmer.
Mike Faist, who can be in East of Eden, was a well-liked alternative for Haymitch in fan casts, regardless of the actor being twice the age of the character.
The casting information has been met with constructive reactions from followers, with many being glad the actors aren’t established stars already.
Based mostly on conversations over social media, followers have steered Elle Fanning for younger Effie Trinket, initially performed by Elizabeth Banks, Ralph Fiennes for President Snow, who has been performed by Donald Sutherland in The Starvation Video games trilogy and Tom Blyth in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Kieran Culkin’s title too has been introduced up for the flamboyant commentator for the Video games, initially performed by Stanley Tucci.
Formally, no different casting bulletins have been made.
The Starvation Video games: Dawn on the Reaping is slated to be launched on 20 November 2026.
