Woody Harrelson won’t be the only actor to portray Hunger Games fan-favorite Haymitch Abernathy on the big screen.
The character’s backstory will take center stage in the upcoming prequel film, Sunrise on the Reaping, which is set to premiere next year. The movie will adapt Suzanne Collins’ latest Hunger Games installment of the same name, which was officially released on Tuesday, March 18.
Both the film and the novel were announced simultaneously in June 2024, a decision that producer Nina Jacobson described as an “interesting challenge” when it came to casting a younger version of Haymitch.
Casting Challenges for a Young Haymitch
“Because of this early manuscript not being published, we haven’t even been able to read actors for fear that sides could leak!” Jacobson, who has produced all five Hunger Games films, shared in an interview with Variety on Thursday, March 20.
“We’ve been holding our breath for a long time, but I think that what we’re looking for in that role is, 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.”
Jacobson emphasized that while “nobody can be Woody Harrelson but Woody Harrelson,” the actor chosen must embody Haymitch’s signature mischief while also capturing who he was before the events that shaped him.
“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,” she explained.
A Transformative Role for an Actor
Jacobson, 59, called Haymitch’s role in the film “great”, noting that it will allow an actor to “really show their chops and the range that they have.”
Hunger Games Prequel Film
Sunrise on the Reaping takes place 24 years before the original Hunger Games novel and follows Haymitch’s harrowing experience in the 50th Hunger Games—a Quarter Quell that doubled the number of tributes.
In addition to exploring beloved characters from the series, the novel provides a deeper look at Haymitch’s life in District 12 and the devastating impact of his actions in the arena.
Woody Harrelson’s Possible Return?
No official casting announcements have been made for Sunrise on the Reaping, including whether Harrelson, 63, will reprise his role as Haymitch in any capacity.
However, in an interview with last month, Harrelson playfully addressed the idea of returning to the franchise, joking that CGI could be used to de-age him into his 16-year-old self.
“It’s not that long ago I was 16,” he quipped. When asked directly about his involvement in the film, Harrelson responded, “Absolutely not.”
However, the interviewer pointed out that Harrelson nodded his head while answering, leaving room for speculation.
Jacobson confirmed that the production is further along than expected due to the early announcement of both the film and novel.
“We have a great draft that we’re still doing work on. We’ve established our locations,” she shared. “We’re very far along for a book that’s only going to come out tomorrow!”
With Sunrise on the Reaping set to dive into the formative years of Haymitch Abernathy, fans eagerly await the next chapter in the Hunger Games universe—and the actor who will bring a young Haymitch to life.
