The next generation of Hollywood talent is stepping into one of cinema’s biggest worlds. Joseph Zada and Iris Apatow are joining The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, giving both young actors a major opportunity to make their mark inside the sprawling world of Panem.
The sixth Hunger Games film arrives in theaters and IMAX on November 20, 2026. It is based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novel Sunrise on the Reaping, which explores Panem 24 years before Katniss Everdeen’s story. Lionsgate confirmed the film as the latest major chapter in a franchise that has generated more than $3.3 billion worldwide.
Joseph Zada Takes Over as Haymitch
For Joseph Zada, the role represents a career-changing opportunity. The Australian actor plays a young Haymitch Abernathy, the future mentor who was famously portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original movies.
This version of Haymitch is very different from the cynical survivor audiences already know. The story begins on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. Zada must therefore portray Haymitch before years of trauma transform him.
Variety reports that co-star Mckenna Grace has already praised Zada’s talent and predicted a major future for the young actor. His performance could become the defining launchpad of his Hollywood career.
Iris Apatow Enters the Capitol
Iris Apatow enters Panem in a different position. She plays Proserpina Trinket, a Capitol prep-team member and the younger sister of Effie Trinket.
The character gives Apatow an opportunity to explore the glamorous but unsettling Capitol culture that has always been central to The Hunger Games. TheWrap reported when Apatow joined the cast that she would play Proserpina alongside Edvin Ryding’s Vitus.
Apatow already has experience across television and film, including Netflix projects such as Love and The Bubble. A high-profile franchise role could now introduce her to a much larger global audience.
A New Generation Takes Over Panem
The importance of Joseph Zada and Iris Apatow goes beyond their individual roles. Sunrise on the Reaping combines emerging performers with established stars including Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning and Jesse Plemons.
Scholastic says the film features a large ensemble of rising and established actors, while the novel has already become a major worldwide bestseller.
The official Hunger Games movie site confirms the November 20 theatrical and IMAX release. The film is directed by Francis Lawrence, who has directed every franchise installment since Catching Fire, with Billy Ray adapting Collins’ novel.
Why This Could Change Their Careers
Franchise exposure can transform young performers almost overnight. Zada has the enormous challenge of reinventing a character audiences already recognize. Apatow, meanwhile, gets to build a new character within an established mythology.
The Motion Picture Association notes that the new film brings together returning franchise figures and a new generation of performers.
If Sunrise on the Reaping delivers the emotional impact and spectacle expected from Panem, Joseph Zada and Iris Apatow could emerge from the movie with something more valuable than franchise recognition: genuine star-making momentum.
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