Latest news with #JosephZada
Grazia USA
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Grazia USA
Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Kieran Culkin, and More Join 'The Hunger Games' Prequel Cast
Actor Jennifer Lawrence on the set of the film 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II', Berlin, Germany, 2013. {Photo by} Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping dropped in March of this year, revisiting the dystopian world of the beloved original series. The book follows the fan-favourite Haymitch Abernathy (portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original film trilogy) as he competes in the 50th Hunger Games—24 years before he mentors Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in their games. This is also the second quarter quell, where double the usual number of tributes compete. The film adaptation is set to hit theatres in November of 2026, with the announcement coming as no surprise following the success of the previous films. As expected, fans have been eagerly awaiting casting and were rewarded with the first announcement on the 23rd of April this year, with the two leading roles announced. Following this, Lionsgate has been revealing the rest of the cast over the last month. Read on for all we know. Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy Joseph Zada / Image: @primevideo Joseph Zada will be playing Haymitch Abernathy—a tribute from District 12 who competes in the 50th annual Hunger Games. In terms of securing the iconic role, according to the casting directors, '[Zada] prepared like crazy and stole our hearts.' Woody Harrelson on the set of the film, 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I', Atlanta, USA, 2013. {Photo by} The 20-year-old Australian actor has previously starred in the Stan original series Invisible Boys , as well as the upcoming We Were Liars , and East of Eden series. With the latter two also being book adaptations— We Were Liars, a young-adult bestseller, and East of Eden, a John Steinbeck classic that he will star in alongside Florence Pugh and Mike Faist. Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird Whitney Peak attends the Opening Season Ballet Gala At Palais Garnier, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images) Whitney Peak will portray Lenore Dove Baird—Haymitch's girlfriend and a fellow District 12 resident. Producer Nina Jacobson told Variety that casting Peak was 'one of those magical casting moments when you know your search has led you home.' Peak is best known for her role as Zoya Lott in the 2021 Gossip Girl reboot, but has also starred in Hocus Pocus 2 and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina series. The actress was also appointed a Chanel brand ambassador in 2021 and became the first Black woman to be the face of the Coco Mademoiselle fragrance in 2023. Ralph Fiennes as President Snow Ralph Fiennes attends the 2025 National Board of Review Gala, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by) Ralph Fiennes will be portraying the abhorred dictator of Panem, President Snow. Tom Blyth took on the role for Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes , while the late Donald Sutherland was the first to portray Snow in the original series. Donald Sutherland on the set of the film, 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I', Paris, France, 2013. {Photo by} The Oscar-nominated actor is best known for works such as Schindler's List , The English Patient , and recently Conclave. As well as Maid in Manhattan, The Menu, and of course, for playing another iconic villain, Voldemort, in the Harry Potter franchise. Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket Elle Fanning attends the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) Elle Fanning will be taking on the role of Effie Trinket, who helps her sister with styling duties for the District 12 tributes. Originally played by Elizabeth Banks, the character becomes a stylist in her own right by the time we see her as an adult in The Hunger Games. Elizabeth Banks (L) and Jennifer Lawrence (R) on the set of the film 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I', Paris, France, 2013. {Photo by} Most recently, Fanning has starred in the period dramedy series The Great, as well as the Oscar-nominated film A Complete Unknown alongside Timothée Chalamet. Previously, she has also appeared in Maleficent , The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , and Super 8 . Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman Kieran Culkin at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images) Kieran Culkin will portray the eccentric TV host Caesar Flickerman, a role previously taken on by Stanley Tucci. 'Stanley Tucci made Caesar unforgettable—and now Kieran will make the role entirely his own,' is what Lionsgate co-president Erin Westerman had to say on the casting. The actor is best known for his Emmy Award-winning role as Roman Roy in the TV series Succession . More recently, he also won an Academy Award for his work in A Real Pain . Other appearances have included those in Home Alone , Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and She's All That . Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner Mckenna Grace attends the 'Cazafantasmas: El Imperio Helado' photocall at Mandarín Oriental Ritz Hotel on March 18, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by) Mckenna Grace will play Maysilee Donner, who is one of the two female tributes from District 12. The actress is no newcomer, having entered the acting profession at a young age, and has starred in countless roles in titles such as, I, Tonya , Captain Marvel , Ghostbusters: Afterlife, The Vampire Diaries , Once Upon a Time , The Haunting of Hill House , The Handmaid's Tale , and many more. Her upcoming projects include Scream 7 and Freddy's 2 . Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee Jesse Plemons attends the Los Angeles premiere of A24's 'Civil War', 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Aliah Anderson/FilmMagic ) Jesse Plemons will play a young Plutarch Heavensbee. Previously portrayed by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, the character eventually becomes a gamemaker; however, in this earlier setting, he is a cameraperson who becomes involved in Haymitch's life. Plemons' breakout role was in Friday Night Lights , and ever since, he has starred in films such as The Irishman, Judas and the Black Messiah, Killers of the Flower Moon, and The Power of the Dog. He has also starred in some incredible shows, including Breaking Bad and Fargo . Off-screen, the actor is married to Kristen Dunst, with whom he shares two children. Maya Hawke as Wiress Maya Hawke attends the 2023 Time100 Next at Second on October 24, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) Maya Hawke will be portraying the winner of the 49th Hunger Games—Wiress—who returns to mentor the tributes for the 50th. She was portrayed by Amanda Plummer in the original trilogy. Hawke is most known for her breakout Stranger Things role, and has since starred in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Do Revenge, and as the voice of Anxiety in Inside Out 2 . Outside of her acting, Hawke is known for being the daughter of stars Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke. Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Kelvin Harrison Jr. at the 15th Annual AAFCA Awards, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Variety via Getty Images) Kelvin Harrison Jr. plays the familiar Beetee—winner of the 34th Hunger Games—whose son is competing in the 50th. The role was portrayed by Jeffrey Wright in both Catching Fire and Mockingjay . The actor is best known for his roles in The Trial of the Chicago 7 , Godfather of Harlem, Elvis, and most recently for voicing Taka in Mufasa: The Lion King. Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan Lili Taylor attends the AITAF 10th Anniversary Celebration, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by) Lili Taylor will be playing District 4's Mags Flanagan—winner of the 11th Hunger Games and mentor in the 50th. Lynn Cohen previously portrayed the role in Catching Fire . Taylor is known for 80s film classics such as Mystic Pizza , as well as later roles in Rudy, High Fidelity , and The Conjuring. She has also starred in multiple series such as Marvel's Daredevil: Born Again and Outer Range . Taylor has also ventured into the world of writing, with her book Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing. topics: The Hunger Games, sunrise on the reaping, joseph zada, whitney peak, Ralph Fiennes, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, mckenna grace, jesse plemons, Maya Hawke, kalvin harrison jr, lili taylor, Woody Harrelson, catching fire, mockingjay, celebrity, celebrity news, Film News, film, movies, Film + TV
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Kieran Culkin joins The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Kieran Culkin has been cast in 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping'. The 42-year-old actor will appear in the upcoming fantasy movie as Caesar Flickerman - the character first played by Stanley Tucci in the original 'Hunger Games' films, The Hollywood Reporter has said. The 'A Real Pain' star will be joining Joseph Zada, who will lead the flick as Haymitch Abernathy - previously portrayed by Woody Harrelson - with Whitney Peak set to portray his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Meanwhile, Maya Hawke will play Wiress - the former Hunger Games champion who now serves as a mentor for those in District 12 - while Mckenna Grace has been cast as District 12 Tribute Maysilee Donner. Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and 'Karate Kid: Legends' star Ben Wang have also joined 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping', and will portray Plutarch Heavensbee, Beetee and District 12 Tribute Wyatt Callow, respectively. Rounding out the cast is Ralph Fiennes, who has signed on to play President Coriolanus Snow - the role previously held by the late Donald Sutherland in the original 'Hunger Games' movies and Tom Blyth in the 2023 prequel 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes'. In a statement, producer Nina Jacobson said: 'We wanted to honour Donald Sutherland by having one of this generation's greatest actors play President Snow 24 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the arena. 'Working with Ralph has been on my bucket list since he traumatised me for life in 'Schindler's List'. It's genuinely a thrill to welcome him to the Hunger Games.' 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' is set to be directed by Francis Lawrence, who will be working from a script written by Billy Ray. The blockbuster is being produced by Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force, with Cameron MacConomy serving as executive producer. The flick is scheduled to hit cinemas in November 2026. 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' will be an adaptation of Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel of the same name, and is the second instalment of the author's 'Hunger Games' prequel trilogy. Set 24 years before 'The Hunger Games', 'Sunrise on the Reaping' follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy as he's thrust into the brutal 50th Hunger Games, where twice the tributes mean twice the bloodshed. As he fights to survive, Haymitch begins to uncover the Capitol's darkest secrets - and the true price of rebellion. After Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak were announced as the leading stars for 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' last month, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erin Westerman said: ''The Hunger Games' franchise has long been a launching pad for remarkable young actors, and Jo and Whitney carry that legacy forward with incredible heart, depth, and fire. '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. 'Haymitch has always been a fan favourite, and his origin story is one of the most anticipated in the franchise. His relationship with Lenore Dove is deeply woven into the emotional history of Panem. 'We can't wait for fans to experience the story that shaped one of the most compelling characters in the series.'
Khaleej Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Kieran Culkin joins 'The Hunger Games' cast as host Caesar Flickerman
Oscar and Emmy winner Kieran Culkin has joined The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as magnanimous host Caesar Flickerman in the movie, reported Variety. Actor Stanley Tucci played the role of host Flickerman in the original quartet of films. Culkin has joined previously announced cast members Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy (lead actor), Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Lili Taylor as Mags, Ben Wang as Wyatt, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket and Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, reported Variety. The new film is based on Suzanne Collins' novel of the same name. The movie reportedly visits the world of Panem nearly a quarter of a century before the events of those films, where Woody Harrelson's Haymitch Abernathy served as a mentor to Jennifer Lawrence's character Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson's Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games film series. In Sunrise on the Reaping, Haymitch is the main character, as the action begins on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, in which he enters the deadly arena, according to Variety. Earlier this year, Culkin won the Oscar in Best Supporting Actor category for his performance opposite Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain. He's halfway to EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) status after winning the lead actor drama Emmy for the final season of HBO's Succession, where he played Roman Roy. Culkin currently appears on Broadway starring in the sold out run of Glengarry Glen Ross with Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr. Joseph Zada will be Haymitch Abernathy. As for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the film adaptation of a novel will be released on November 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence, who has helmed every instalment of the franchise since 2012's Catching Fire, will direct from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray.
Gizmodo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
The Next ‘Hunger Games' Movie Keeps Gobbling Up More Names for Its Cast
Elle Fanning has signed on to play Effie Trinket in Suzanne Collins adaptation 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.' We were already looking forward to seeing Elle Fanning kicking ass on an alien planet in Predator: Badlands. Now the A Complete Unknown actress is adding another well-known franchise to her resume, this time with a role we know a lot more about going in: she'll play Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, a flamboyant character memorably played by Elizabeth Banks in the original Hunger Games movies. As Variety reports, this younger version of Effie is still climbing the ladder in Panem. In Sunrise, she'll be the stylist for District 12 Tribute Haymitch Abernathy, played here by Joseph Zada. (In the main Hunger Games movies, he was played by Woody Harrelson.) Fanning is just the latest big name to join the Sunrise cast. Its main characters—Zada as Haymitch and Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird—are played by up-and-comers, but there are plenty of immediately recognizable faces also along for the ride, including Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, and Lili Taylor as Mags. Other cast members include Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Ben Wang as Wyatt, Molly McCann as Louella, and Iona Bell as Louella lookalike Lou Lou. Frequent Hunger Games helmer Francis Lawrence is back to direct Sunrise on the Reaping; it hits theaters November 20, 2026.
Pink Villa
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Hunger Games Fans Notice Easter Eggs In Casting Announcements Made By Lionsgate
Lionsgate recently had everyone amused as they announced new names for Sunrise on the Reaping and this is simply intriguing the fans of the age-old franchise, Hunger Games. The diehards of the aforementioned movie series have noticed some big easter eggs in the way the studio has been announcing its cast. To be precise, the first batch of the cast for the upcoming film was announced just last month. Names in this batch included Joseph Zada, who is set to portray the character of the film's lead, Haymitch Abernathy. Other names are Whitney Peak, who will be seen as Lenore Dove Baird, along with McKenna Grace, set to act as Maysilee Donner, and Jesse Plemons, who will be seen in the film as Plutarch Heavensbee. Fans on social media quickly noted that the revelation of the cast members could act as a nod to the amount of tributes reaped from each district for the 50th annual Hunger Games in the book. In case you might not know, Haymitch's Hunger Games, the one that is also known as the Second Quarter Quell, featured twice the amount of normal tributes, with a total of 48. This was in addition to Haymitch and Maysilee, who were District 12's tributes, and included Wyatt Callow, who will be played by Ben Wang, and Louella McCoy. However, they have not been cast yet. In another case, fans of the Hunger Games also believe that the Hunger Games social media accounts took a gap of almost 18 days to have the next group of its cast announced. While these names included Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, the exact time was approximately the number of days Katniss, who was played by Jennifer Lawrence, and Peeta, a character portrayed by Josh Hutcherson, had waited in the arena in the first book of the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will hit the theaters on November 20, 2026.
