Mckenna Grace has been cast in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, where she will play Maysilee Donner, a fellow District 12 Tribute alongside Haymitch Abernathy. The 18-year-old actress joins Joseph Zada, who will portray Haymitch, and Whitney Peak, who will play his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. The role of Maysilee Donner was highly coveted, as it was seen as the closest character to Katniss Everdeen, the role that made Jennifer Lawrence a star in the original Hunger Games films.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is based on Suzanne Collins' upcoming 2025 novel, which is the second installment in her prequel trilogy. The story takes place 24 years before the events of the first Hunger Games book and focuses on Haymitch Abernathy, who becomes a tribute in the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

Directed by Francis Lawrence, with a screenplay by Billy Ray, the film will be produced by Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force, with Cameron MacConomy serving as executive producer. The movie is set to release in theaters in November 2026. On April 23, it was revealed that Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak had joined the cast, with Zada playing Haymitch Abernathy, a role previously portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original films. Erin Westerman, Co-President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, praised their performances, highlighting their talent and emotional depth.

Westerman stated, "Haymitch has always been a fan favorite, and his origin story is highly anticipated. His relationship with Lenore Dove is central to Panem’s emotional history." Producer Nina Jacobson also emphasized the extensive search to find the right actors for the roles of young Haymitch and Lenore Dove. "Jo prepared extensively and stole our hearts, while Whitney took our breath away as Lenore Dove," Jacobson added. "When we saw them together, we knew we had found the perfect match."