The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapinghas cast another major character. The 2026 movie is based on the 2025 young adult novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, which is a prequel set 24 years beforeThe Hunger Games, following the game that was won by Katniss Everdeen’s future mentor Haymitch Abernathy. TheupcomingSunrise on the Reapingwill be directed by Francis Lawrence (who has helmed every installment in the franchise since 2013’sCatching Fire) from a screenplay by Billy Ray (who co-wrote the original 2012 movie).
Lionsgatehas now announced thatMckenna Grace has been cast inThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingas Maysilee Donner, who is the other District 12 tribute in the Fiftieth Hunger Games alongside Haymitch (We Were Liars' Joseph Zada). Zada’s casting was announced the day before Grace’s casting, at the same time when it was revealed thatChilling Adventures of Sabrinastar Whitney Peak will be playing Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Grace was previously widely featured in various fan casts for the character.
What This Means For Sunrise On The Reaping
An Experienced Star Has Joined The Cast
Previously, the newHunger Gamesmoviehad primarily cast up-and-coming stars with relatively short resumes. The addition of Mckenna Grace changes that considerably. Even though she is only 18 years old at the time of writing,she has already appeared in more than five dozen different film and television projects, having kicked off her career in 2012 with a role in the Disney XD seriesCrash & Bernstein. She would later have her breakout role in 2017 when she starred as a precocious child opposite Chris Evans, Jenny Slate, and Octavia Spencer in the Marc Webb dramaGifted.
Giftedearned Mckenna Grace a nomination for Best Young Actor/Actress at the 23rd Critics' Choice Awards, though she lost to Brooklynn Prince forThe Florida Project.
LaterMckenna Grace moviessaw her taking on even more prominent roles in a variety of well-known franchises. This includes appearing inAmityville: The Awakening,Ready Player One,Captain Marvel,Annabelle Comes Home,Scoob!, and the upcomingScream 7, in addition toher prominent role as Egon Spengler’s granddaughter Phoebe inGhostbusters: Afterlifeand its sequelFrozen Empire. She has also had a robust television career, playing roles including Young Theo inThe Haunting of Hill House, Esther Keyes inThe Handmaid’s Tale, and Paige Swanson inYoung Sheldon.
Our Take On Mckenna Grace Joining Sunrise On The Reaping
She Is A Real Asset For The Hunger Games Prequel
It will be important forThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingto bring Maysilee Donner to life with great care, becauseshe is one of the most important characters that fuels Haymitch Abernathy’s character arc, which needs to lead organically into his dissolute adulthood (as portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original movies) and eventual recovery. She is just as important in the overall lore of the franchise, as she possesses the mockingjay pin that becomes an important symbol later on, so having someone as experienced as Grace on board is a real boon.
