Happy Reaping Day, and happy birthday to Haymitch Abernathy.
A “Meet Haymitch” featurette debuted Saturday in celebration of this auspicious date in Panem. It gives a first look at the origin story of Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, winner of the 50th Hunger Games and star of the upcoming “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” film, which hits theaters on Nov. 20.
The featurette teases Zada as Haymitch, with scenes ranging from the literal sunrise on his Reaping Day to Capitol interviews to the Games itself. Interspersed are clips from production and interviews with cast and crew about creating the backstory of the now-well known character. Woody Harrelson played Haymitch in the film adapatations of the original “Hunger Games” trilogy, in a performance director and producer Francis Lawrence calls “a very iconic portrayal of a character.”
Although Zada takes up the mantle of Harrelson’s character, he isn’t the only actor stepping into a role familiar to fans of the series. Elle Fanning stars as Effie Trinket, originally played by Elizabeth Banks; the forthcoming fifth film also provides the backstory to Effie and Haymitch’s relationship in the trilogy. Other returning characters with new stars include President Snow (Ralph Fiennes), Caesar Flickerman (Kieran Culkin), Plutarch Heavensbee (Jesse Plemons), Wiress (Maya Hawke) and Beetee (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). Mckenna Grace (Maysilee Donner) and Glenn Close (Drusilla Sickle) also join the star-studded cast.
Francis Lawrence, who has directed all of the “Hunger Games” films since the sequel “Catching Fire” in 2013, returns as director and producer. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson also produced, with Cameron MacConomy and “Hunger Games” author Suzanne Collins as executive producers.
