Every Returning Hunger Games Character in Sunrise on the Reaping, Ranked by Impact
Suzanne Collins’ new prequel for The Hunger Games book series now centres on Haymitch Abernathy’s story, though it also sees some other surprising returns. Here’s everyone who you can expect to come back to the screen in Sunrise on the Reaping movie.
Things keep coming together for The Hunger Games’ next prequel movie Sunrise on the Reaping, with Kelvin Harrison Jr. being the latest addition to the cast (via Deadline).
The upcoming film, based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, will see its events unfolding during the 50th Hunger Games that had Katniss’ mentor Haymitch Abernathy as its victor. Despite the major time gap between the two stories, Haymitch isn’t the only familiar figure that will be reintroduced in the next prequel.
The list of returns may, in fact, be much longer, so we picked every single returning character you can now be excited to see on screens again.
11. Haymitch Abernathy
Woody Harrelson’s character, now portrayed by newcomer Joseph Zada, is returning as the movie’s centre figure and a District 12 tribute for the 50th Hunger Games aka second Quarter Quell.
Haymitch’s eventual win is believed to be one of the turning points in the ongoing tension between the Capitol and the districts.
10. Asterid Everdeen
Katniss and Primrose’s mother Asterid also gets a surprising mention in Sunrise on the Reaping, this time introduced as the girlfriend of Burdock Everdeen, one of Haymitch’s closest friends in District 12.
Appearing mostly in the novel’s final chapters, Asterid becomes some kind of breaking point in Haymitch and Burdock’s friendship when the former throws a stone at Asterid by trying to push them both away from himself.
9. Wiress
The 49th Hunger Games winner from District 3, Wiress comes as a mentor for District 12 tributes in Sunrise on the Reaping.
The novel also delves into the character’s personal story just a little bit, suggesting Wiress caused some outrage in the Capitol when she outsmarted everyone in the arena full of reflective surfaces.
8. Mags
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The upcoming movie will also bring back another third Quarter Quell tribute Mags, showing her as a compassionate and reliable mentor for District 12 tributes during the 50th Hunger Games.
Together with Wiress Mags does everything she’s able to to help Haymitch and his friends survive in the arena, giving them solid advice on how things work during the Hunger Games and even sending Haymitch gifts, contributing to his future victory.
7. Beetee
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Another tribute for the third Quarter Quell in Catching Fire, Beetee comes around for the 50th Hunger Games for a heartbreaking reason.
As one more of those victors who tried to fool the Capitol, Beetee gets his punishment when he’s tasked with mentoring the competition that his own son Ampert was chosen to participate in.
However, both Beetee and Ampert come up with a plan to blow up the arena, which is what Haymitch does after receiving guidance from Beetee.
6. Caesar Flickerman
The Hunger Games’ beloved character returns after a short break in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes where Caesar’s place was taken by his ancestor Lucky Flickerman.
In Sunrise on the Reaping, however, Caesar might have taken on a more important role, once again handling the interviews night during which Haymitch secures some of the sponsors’ help in the arena.
5. Plutarch Heavensbee
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The Head Gamemaker in The Hunger Games, Plutarch is yet to reach this position in Sunrise on the Reaping, though he still uses his job’s privileges to collaborate with Haymitch on the idea of blowing up the arena.
The novel proves that Plutarch has been on the rebellious side long before an actual rebellion was started by Katniss Everdeen, with the character himself also teasing Katniss’ role by saying that they just need a right person to do the whole thing.
4. President Snow
Now having moved on from Lucy Gray Baird and been promoted to Panem’s president after serving as a mentor, Coriolanus Snow returns in Sunrise on the Reaping, making sure that, just like other audacious victors of the Hunger Games, Haymitch will also be punished for trying to overthrow the Capitol.
3. Effie Trinket
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Before becoming a regular escort for District 12 during the Hunger Games, Effie started her career off with a stylist position when she was asked to help prepare the tributes for the 50th Hunger Games.
Soon enough, Effie does replace Drusilla, the District 12 escort at the time, and forms some kind of friendship with Haymitch who she will be working with years later during the 74th Hunger Games.
2. Peeta Mellark
Even though Peeta doesn’t get his own direct mention, Haymitch repeatedly brings the Mellarks up, in particular Otho Mellark who is actually Peeta’s father.
The character gets a notable appearance during the funeral of Haymitch’s mother and brother and also in the novel’s epilogue.
1. Katniss Everdeen
Apart from teasing Katniss’ future role in the rebellion that overthrew the Capitol, Sunrise on the Reaping also mentions her directly, as Haymitch recalls visiting the Everdeens while Katniss was a little girl.
On top of that, it’s also revealed that both Katniss and Peeta, who ended up being married by the time Mockingjay wrapped, still live in District 12 and stay in touch with their former mentor.
