Sunrise on the Reaping Finds Its Young Effie Trinket

What was long speculated is now fact. Casting continues for the prequel film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, with Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Lou Lou, and Louella, among others. 

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins is a prequel that precedes The Hunger Games trilogy by 25 years. It follows Katniss’s mentor Haymitch Abernathy, when he is reaped for his own Hunger Games and the second Quarter Quell, along with four other District 12 tributes. 

Leading the cast will be Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy and Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, his girlfriend back in District 12. The older version of Haymitch was portrayed onscreen by Woody Harrelson.  

There have long been rumors that Elle Fanning and Conclave actor Ralph Fiennes have been in talks to star in this prequel film. As of today, both have been officially cast.

“I was thinking we might get you a golden ankle band and maybe find Haymitch a gold bracelet or something so we could all look like a team” pic.twitter.com/fmI0OXCULC

— lilly (@everdovey) May 20, 2025

In the original trilogy, Effie Trinket serves as an escort and advisor to Katniss and Peeta Mellark during the 74 Hunger Games. Known for her grandiose outfits, even in times of war, she was portrayed by Elizabeth Banks. 

At the time of the Sunrise on the Reaping, Fanning will portray a much younger Effie, an emergency last-minute addition to the styling and advising of Haymitch and his fellow tributes. 

With Ralph Fiennes’s casting, he will be the third actor to portray President Coriolanus Snow on the screen. The late Donald Sutherland originated the character in the original trilogy, and Tom Blythe portrayed Snow in his youth for the first prequel film, The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. 

Haymitch’s fellow District 12 tributes include McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, Molly McCann as Louella McCoy, and Iona Bell as Lou Lou.  

Other familiar characters include mentors and previous victors, whom fans first met in Catching Fire. These include Kelvin Harrison Jr. as young Beetee Latier, originated by Jeffrey Wright; Maya Hawke as Wiress, originated by Amanda Plummer; and Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan, originated by the late Lynn Cohen. 

Another Capital resident from the original trilogy is Jesse Plemmons as Plutarch Heavensbee, a character originated by Philip Seymour Hoffman.

As of today, all the District 12 tributes and mentors have been cast, but other, more minor yet still significant roles remain open, such as Ampert, Haymitch’s mother and brother, as well as Katniss’s parents.

There is also the matter of Stanley Tucci’s character Cesar Flickerman, host of the Hunger Games in the original trilogy and Sunrise on the Reaping. However, there have been rumors that Oscar-winning actor Kieran Culkin is in talks to take on the role. 

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Billy Ray. Filming is set to begin this July and premiere in theaters on November 20, 2026.

In the meantime, you can purchase your own copy of Sunrise on the Reaping here.