Lionsgate released a new trailer for its latest Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping. Following its previous prequel, which told President Snow’s story before the world met him through Katniss Everdeen’s eyes, Sunrise on the Reaping shifts its focus to her mentor and former death game contestant, Haymitch, and asks: What’s his story?
While it’s hard not to feel a bit cynical about the question’s relevance eleven years after the Jennifer Lawrence-led saga reached its conclusion, Sunrise on the Reaping‘s new trailer does a decent job teasing how incredibly messed up Suzanne Collins’ post-apocalyptic world of Panem looked before the events of the original film quadrilogy. Sunrise on the Reaping turns back the clock from Woody Harrelson’s sardonic portrayal of Haymitch Abernathy to Joseph Zada‘s portrayal of the character as a fiery 16-year-old revolutionary upstart before the world ground him into dust. Much of that transition seems tied to the Capitol’s second Quarter Quell: a new, bigger version of the Hunger Games that pits children from impoverished districts against each other in a fight to the death, as if it were the Super Bowl. From the look of things, the second Quarter Quell, in concert with Haymitch’s role as a revolutionary against the Capitol, will create the perfect storm to transform him into the character fans know and love.
Here’s the official plot synopsis of the film:
Set in the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, the story follows Haymitch into the arena, where he forms an unlikely alliance with fellow tribute Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace) and joins a coalition determined to challenge the Capitol’s control under President Snow (Ralph Fiennes). As the competition unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take down the Games from within the arena—setting in motion the rebellion that will change Panem forever.
Although suspense over whether Haymitch will survive the second Quarter Quell is a given, Sunrise on the Reaping‘s new trailer certainly turns heads with its lineup of actors playing younger versions of legacy Hunger Games characters. Chief among them is Jesse Plemons playing a younger version of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character, Plutarch Heavensbee. This particular bit of casting rocks on two fronts. Firstly, Hoffman’s final acting role before his death was The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. Second, movie lovers often confuse the two actors as father and son because of their uncanny resemblance. Hats off to the movie’s casting director for the inspired choice of casting Plemmons as Heavensbee. Joining them are Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping releases in theatres and IMAX on November 20th.
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