‘The Hunger Games’ Haymitch Prequel Eyes Charlie Plummer & Ralph Fiennes

The Hunger Games franchise is going back in time for another prequel focusing on one of the franchise’s most popular characters, Haymitch Abernathy. Previously played by Woody Harrelson, the studio has been working hard to find his younger replacement, and it seems they’ve found him. Moreover, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will seemingly include President Snow, with a recent Oscar nominee in talks to join the prequel project.

According to Nexus Point News, Charlie Plummer (The Long Walk, The Return) is being eyed to lead The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as Haymitch. It’s hard not to see the immediate resemblance to the character. And judging by the fact that he stars in The Long Walk, directed by longtime Hunger Games filmmaker Franchise Lawrence, the odds that Plummer has joined the cast of Sunrise on the Reaping are looking quite likely. Meanwhile, another major casting addition is in the works, and it continues The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes‘ tradition of including an Oscar-nominated actor as a villain.

How ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Fits Into ‘The Hunger Games’ Timeline

With the latest installment in ‘The Hunger Games’ franchise out in the world, let’s take a look at how it all fits together.

Per Daniel Richtman, Conclave star Ralph Fiennes is in talks to join Sunrise on the Reaping as President Snow, the franchise’s longest-running antagonist. Coincidentally, the three-time Oscar nominee played Odysseus, the father of Plummer’s Telemachus, in The Return. It seems another reunion is in the works, but the characters they will be playing will instead be at odds in the Hunger Games film. Of course, no deals have been finalized just yet, so the aforementioned news should be taken with a grain of salt. Donald Sutherland played Snow in the original four films, while Tom Blyth portrayed the character before his villainous turn in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

This ‘Hunger Games’ Star Wants To Return to the Franchise

Is the gang getting back together? It’s been nearly 10 years since the release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, but one of its stars is open to a franchise return. Josh Hutcherson played Peeta Mellark, the primary love interest to Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen, in each installment of the original four-film Hunger Games series. In a recent interview, he expressed interest in returning as Peeta in a potential sequel, directly following up on the ending of Mockingjay Part 2. Only if Suzanne Collins writes a new book, of course. His words:

“The story is incredible. The Hunger Games was incredible. I think Peeta’s an incredible person to get to bring to life. I’m curious to know what happens between when they have their family and when the story ends, just to understand what happened in the world, how they got to that place. But I’m down. If you can talk to Suzanne Collins and tell her to write a book, I’m in. Sign me up.”

The possibility that is left out of his statement is that The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping could include a scene or two that takes place in the present day before telling the prequel story. This would not only lead to Woody Harrelson potentially reprising his role as Haymitch, but perhaps adjacent characters that became close to him after the events of The Hunger Games. Could Peeta return sooner than later in Sunrise on the Reaping? Time will only tell, but Hutcherson looks more than ready to answer the call again.

Source: Nexus Point News, Daniel Richtman