Since news broke about the upcoming movie adaptation of “Sunrise on the Reaping“, our curiosity has been piqued regarding who would take on the role of young Haymitch Abernathy. Earlier this year, Joseph Zada was chosen to play the District 12 tribute, and now he faces a challenging task as he follows in Woody Harrelson’s footsteps, given his exceptional portrayal. Lately, Zada has shared insights into landing the role and detailed the grueling audition process; yet, he also emphasized why that experience was crucial.
In the forthcoming movie “Sunrise on the Reaping,” we’ll delve into the sorrowful backstory of Haymitch and discover his transformation into the reluctant mentor portrayed in “The Hunger Games” films. Filming is scheduled to begin this summer, and Joseph Zada, who plays young Haymitch, discussed his audition for the upcoming film during an interview with Swooon. He emphasized how demanding yet crucial that experience was, stating:
*In the upcoming “Sunrise on the Reaping” movie, we’ll explore the heart-wrenching backstory of Haymitch and witness his evolution into the reluctant mentor we saw in “The Hunger Games” films. Filming is slated to start this summer, and Joseph Zada, cast as young Haymitch, reflected on the audition process for the new film during an interview with Swooon. He underscored how challenging yet essential that step was, expressing:*
The experience was significant; they pushed me to my limits extensively since it held great significance. It was essential for me to endure this process not only to understand the character but also to interact with everyone I collaborated with, fostering a sense of comfort. Now, I feel comfortable, exhilarated, and apprehensive.
It seems quite understandable that the audition for such a pivotal role, which serves as the heart of this fresh narrative, would have been nerve-racking for him. I can see why it was essential; it provided him with an entrance into this new universe, allowing him to grasp the character he’d embody and the depth of emotion he’d experience in the process.
Currently, I’m quite intrigued about how Joseph Zada managed to endure such a rigorous process. It seems he needed to demonstrate both his physical capabilities suitable for playing a District 12 victor and his emotional depth to convey Haymitch’s heart-wrenching backstory convincingly. Given that Woody Harrelson set a high bar with his portrayal of the complex yet endearing District 12 mentor, it makes sense that the audition was tough for any actor stepping into those shoes. In other words, I can understand why the tryout was challenging.
It’s easy to understand why Joseph Zada might have been nervous, since this process seemed to be his first encounter with many of his fellow cast members, including director Francis Lawrence who has been associated with the Hunger Games franchise since Catching Fire. Interestingly, just like how Panem selects two tributes simultaneously for the games, Whitney Peak was also cast at the same time as Zada. She will portray Haymitch’s significant other, Lenore, so it’s likely that they met during auditions as well.
Other gifted actors have been chosen for parts in the cast of “Sunrise on the Reaping,” where they’ll need to portray characters previously played by other actors on-screen. As it turns out, fan predictions were accurate as Elle Fanning from “The Great” will play Effie, while Kelvin Harrison Jr. from “Chevalier” has been cast as Beetee, a role initially brought to life by Jeffrey Wright. Jesse Plemons will step into the shoes of young Plutarch, and Kieran Culkin is set to portray Caesar Flickerman. Lastly, Ralph Fiennes will embody Snow – similar to Zada’s challenge with Haymitch, there’s likely pressure on these actors reprising roles from “The Hunger Games” series.
Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s clear that they all demonstrated their suitability for the roles during the auditions and casting process.
In my previous statement, it was noted that Zada might have faced a challenging audition for “Sunrise on the Reaping”, but he recognized its significance to grasp his character’s development and the colleagues he would collaborate with. I extend my best wishes to the actor from “We Were Liars” as production commences this coming summer, and I am certain he will embody the raw emotion and compassion evident in Suzanne Collins’ novel when he takes on the role, which you can witness on November 20th, 2026.
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2025-06-12 23:08