Hunger Games Prequel Casts Maya Hawke & Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Wiress and Beetee!

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Summary

  • New cast members for The Hunger Games prequel announced: Maya Hawke as Wiress and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee.
  • The prequel, “Sunrise on the Reaping,” explores Haymitch’s past as a District 12 tribute during the 50th Hunger Games.
  • The film will delve into Wiress and Beetee’s backstory and relationships with Haymitch as mentors during the Games.

The latest casting additions for “The Hunger Games: Rise of Sunset,” the second prequel to Suzanne Collins’ trilogy, are two newcomers. Exciting announcements regarding the adaptation have been made as it brings back youthful versions of well-known characters from the books. It appears they’ve successfully cast the younger Wiress and Beetee for the production.

The story “Sunrise on the Reaping,” taking place 24 years prior to “The Hunger Games,” unfolds in the early hours of a reaping day. It focuses on Haymitch Abernathy, a young man from District 12, who finds himself selected as a tribute for the 50th Hunger Games. Throughout the Games, Haymitch interacts with victors Wiress and Beetee, eventually mentoring them during the Second Quarter Quell.

According to Deadline, Maya Hawke from Stranger Things is set to take on the role of Wiress, a part previously played by Amanda Plummer in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Additionally, Kelvin Harrison Jr., known for his role as Mufasa in The Lion King, will portray Beetee Latier, a character acted by Jeffrey Wright in both Catching Fire and Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2. Joining the cast are Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy (originally played by Woody Harrelson), Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, a role previously held by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the series.

In “Catching Fire”, the audience is familiar with these characters when the 75th Hunger Games are labeled as the Third Quarter Quell. In this instance, Katniss and Peeta (with Peeta stepping in for Haymitch) are once again chosen as tributes since they were victors. Alongside them are other winners, such as District 3’s Wiress and Beetee. Beetee is known for his technical prowess, while the other contestants refer to Wiress as “Crazy” due to her erratic behavior, a consequence of the distress she experienced during the Second Quarter Quell’s events.

In “Sunrise on the Reaping,” Wiress is distinct from the woman Katniss and Peeta encounter in “Catching Fire.” She is an intelligent individual, having won the 49th Hunger Games, and since Lucy Baird’s disappearance, she serves as a mentor to District 12’s tributes, including the 16-year-old Haymitch. Readers will uncover the events of those Games that left her shattered.

In the story, it’s clear that tragedy has befallen Beetee. As a victor from the 34th Hunger Games, he finds himself in a challenging role – mentoring his son Ampert Latier, who was chosen as a tribute for the Quarter Quell. This selection seems to be a form of retribution against Beetee, masterminded by Coriolanus Snow. The movie will unveil the tale of how and when Beetee got involved in the revolution.

This year on March 18th, “The Hunger Games: Dawn at the Reaping” (the fifth book in the series) was published. It follows “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” which is the first prequel, and it’s the sixth film in the franchise. Just like the previous ones, Francis Lawrence, who has been directing them since “Catching Fire,” will be at the helm for this movie, with Billy Ray adapting the screenplay. The release date for “The Hunger Games: Dawn at the Reaping” is set for November 20th, 2026.

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2025-05-15 00:20