EXCLUSIVE: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has another new cast member in Emmy nominee Lili Taylor (Outer Range), who will play Mags, former Hunger Games champion-turned-District 12 mentor.
This comes following news this morning that Maya Hawke has joined as Wiress, another former champion-turned-mentor. Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak lead the ensemble as Haymitch Abernathy and Lenore Dove Baird, respectively. Others on board include Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee.
Based on the bestselling novel by Suzanne Collins, published March 18, the latest installment in Lionsgate‘s dystopian YA franchise revisits the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. The story centers on 16-year-old Haymitch, a clever and resourceful boy from District 12, who’s unexpectedly chosen for this edition of the games, which will feature a deadly twist: twice the number of tributes, with 48 children sent into the arena to battle for their lives.
Franchise vet Francis Lawrence is directing once again from a script by Billy Ray. Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson are producing, with Cameron MacConomy exec producing. Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien are overseeing the project for the studio, for whom Robert Melnik negotiated deals. Slated for release on November 20, 2026, the new film comes on the heels of five installments that have grossed more than $3.3 billion worldwide.
Known for work in projects like American Crime and The Conjuring, Taylor has most recently been seen starring on Prime Video’s Outer Range opposite Josh Brolin. Tapped in March for a role in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, she’ll appear in one of the final episodes of Poker Face Season 2 and also stars in Netflix’s Fear Street: Prom Queen, out May 23. She is represented by Independent Artist Group and Untitled Entertainment.
