Ever since it was announced that Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping would focus on Haymitch Abernathy's backstory, fans of the franchise have been plagued with one question: Who will play young Haymitch in the movie adaptation? And, well, we finally have our answer.
When Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping was first announced as a book back in June of 2024, it was also revealed that the book would be adapted into a movie, much like 2023’s The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. With a confirmed November 20, 2026, release, it was a race against the clock to find the perfect Haymitch for the Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping movie, and we beat the timer. On April 23, 2025, Lionsgate announced that Australian actor Joseph Zada had landed the coveted role of young Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
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Since Sunrise on the Reaping explores Panem 24 years before the original Hunger Games saga takes place, that means Haymitch, the victor of the 50th annual Hunger Games, is only 16 years old in the book. However, there's a more extensive debate about book-accurate casting when it comes to a long-standing film franchise like The Hunger Games. (For one, in the books, Haymitch is described as having olive skin and dark and curly hair, whereas in the films, he is blonde and has blue eyes.)
How old is Joseph Zada?
Though many debated whether the Sunrise on the Reaping movie could choose to age up Haymitch just a little to open up casting options since, after all, tributes for the games can be reaped between the ages of 12 and 18, it seems like that won’t be necessary. Our new young Haymitch, Joseph Zada, was born in 2005, which means he will be 20 years old during the time the movie is being filmed. (ICYMI: filming is slated to begin in July 2025.)
How was young Haymitch cast?
Rather than remaining 100% faithful to the book, the main guiding thread for casting Haymitch was Woody Harrelson's indelible portrayal of the character in the original film saga, which lives within the same cinematic universe as the sequels. In a March 2025 interview with Variety, producer Nina Jacobson opened up about the challenge of casting young Haymitch when the process was very much at zero. (Long story short, before the book came out and fans could read it, the crew was not able to start reading actors for fear that any plotlines could leak with the audition calls.)
Back then, Jacobson said they were not looking for someone who could “impersonate” Harrelson but rather “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.”
“Nobody can be Woody Harrelson but Woody Harrelson,” Jacobson said. “But you have to find that mischief that he has in him inherently and try to understand, if you turn back time from the man you meet at the beginning of The Hunger Games, who he was before all of that, and why he became that.”
After Zada’s casting was unveiled, Jacobson spoke to Deadline about the arduous process of finding “a young actor with the skill and imagination to embody young Haymitch.” She added that Zada “prepared like crazy and stole our hearts.”
What has Joseph Zada done before Sunrise on the Reaping?
Joseph Zada grew up in Sydney, Australia. In previous projects, he’s been credited as both Joseph Cumpston and Jo Cumpston. (Nina Jacobson affectionately also referred to him as Jo when the casting was made public.)
Though Zada is still relatively unknown, which many fans manifested to bring young Haymitch to life, he does have a few titles under his belt and more than you’ll likely be able to see before The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters.
In 2025, Zada starred as 17-year-old Charlie Roth in the queer drama Invisible Boys, a TV series adapted from Holden Sheppard's novel of the same name, which streams on Australian platform Stan.
His next role will be in Prime Video’s We Were Liars, based on E. Lockhart‘s YA novel of the same name. Zada will star as Johnny Sinclair Dennis in the project, which is slated for release on June 18, 2025.
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Per assets shared by Amazon, “We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman and her tight-knit inner circle, nicknamed the Liars, during their summer escapades on her grandfather's New England private island. The Sinclairs are American royalty—known for their good looks, old money, and enviable bond—but after a mysterious accident changes Cadence's life forever, everyone, including her beloved Liars, seems to have something to hide.”
Though it has no release date yet, Zada has also completed filming for Netflix’s limited series East of Eden in New Zealand. He will portray Cal Trask in the adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel, which also stars Florence Pugh, Mike Faist, Christopher Abbott, and more.
As mentioned above, the Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping movie is slated for a November 2026 release. We know filming will begin in July 2025, but it’s unclear how long the production will take to complete, though given its budget, we’d say a while.
Zada was cast as young Haymitch not only for evoking Harrelson but also for his chemistry with fellow lead Whitney Peak, who has been tapped to bring Lenore Dove Baird to life.
“After auditioning hundreds of gifted performers from around the world, these two stood out — not just for their talent, but for the emotional truth they brought to these iconic roles," Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman said. With Jacobson adding: “When we put the two of them together, it was one of those magical casting moments when you know your search has led you home.”
If you want to know more about the Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping movie beyond Joseph Zada’s casting as young Haymitch, check out our complete guide with updates and assets.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated.
