When Lionsgate finally dropped the casting bombshell for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, fans didn’t just react—they combusted. The news that Joseph Zada would play a young Haymitch Abernathy and Whitney Peak would portray Lenore Dove Baird, his girlfriend, sent the fandom into a frenzy.
And it wasn’t just the character reveal that lit the match—it was who was stepping into these legacy roles.
Zada and Peak are no strangers to the camera, but they’re still fresh enough to carry that gritty, unpolished magic The Hunger Games universe demands. As @rhinoteeth posted on X, “The only franchise still casting unknown actors instead of people based on their instagram followers 💪💪.” That’s the spirit this franchise was built on.
Zada will next appear in the highly anticipated Amazon series We Were Liars and in Netflix’s East of Eden opposite Florence Pugh. Meanwhile, Peak’s resume includes the Gossip Girl reboot and the upcoming shark thriller Shiver, where she’ll star opposite Phoebe Dynevor.
Meet the new Haymitch and Lenore: Here’s what you need to know about Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak
Joseph Zada is stepping into some pretty iconic shoes. As the younger version of Woody Harrelson’s Haymitch Abernathy, he’s taking on a fan-favorite character in his rawest, most vulnerable form—before the sarcasm, before the drinking, before the trauma.
According to Deadline, Zada clinched the role after an “exhaustive” worldwide search, with casting director Deb Zane noting, “Jo prepared like crazy and stole our hearts.”
At just 24, Zada is already building a reputation as a rising star. From leading Invisible Boys in Australia to wrapping East of Eden, he’s poised for a serious breakout. One fan on X, @wisdomorwhtevr, summed up the vibe perfectly: “That opening line hits hard! Can’t wait to see Haymitch’s journey in Sunrise on the Reaping. Joseph Zada is a perfect pick for this!”
As for Whitney Peak, she’s not just here to be someone’s love interest—Lenore Dove Baird is a fully-formed emotional heartbeat in this story. Known for her strong-willed presence in Gossip Girl, Peak brings the perfect balance of strength and vulnerability.
“Whitney took our breath away as Lenore Dove,” said producer Nina Jacobson to Hollywood Reporter. With roles in Shiver and 4 Kids Walk into a Bank lined up, Peak is on a collision course with superstardom.
Sunrise on the Reaping could be the most emotional Hunger Games yet
With a release date of November 20, 2026, Sunrise on the Reaping takes us back 24 years before Katniss’s revolution—right into the blood-soaked Second Quarter Quell. Francis Lawrence is returning as director, and Billy Ray is back to script the adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ bestseller. If the book’s sales (1.2 million copies in its first week, per The Hollywood Reporter) are any indicator, the appetite for Haymitch’s backstory is massive.
And it’s not just nostalgia. As Lionsgate’s Erin Westerman told Deadline, “Haymitch has always been a fan favorite, and his origin story is one of the most anticipated in the franchise.” The relationship between Haymitch and Lenore adds a tragic, tender layer to the narrative—a love forged in fire, fated for loss. As a fan, @KhanZaadi posted, “Both are young and talented, Haymitch and Lenore Dove.”
The chemistry between Zada and Peak might just redefine Panem.
