Hunger Games' Young Haymitch Movie Is Destined To Continue A Controversial Franchise Casting Trend

Summary Sunrise on the Reaping may cast an older actor as Haymitch, continuing the franchise's trend of using older stars.

Actors like Jennifer Lawrence and Rachel Zegler were several years older than their fictional counterparts.

Casting an older actor as Haymitch could lead to a more emotional performance in the prequel movie.

The Hunger Games will need to recast Haymitch Abernathy for its Sunrise on the Reaping movie, and it looks like it will continue a controversial franchise trend in doing so. The upcoming Hunger Games prequel is set during the second Quarter Quell, which means Haymitch will be 16 years old when it takes place. Woody Harrelson gives an iconic performance as Haymitch in the original Hunger Games movies, but the new one will need a younger star to accurately bring the character to life.

Recasting Haymitch for Sunrise on the Reaping likely won't be easy, as any actor has big shoes to fill after Harrelson. The Hunger Games fans already have Haymitch fancasts for the prequel, but Lionsgate may already have its eye on someone. A new rumor about Sunrise on the Reaping suggests Mike Faist could play the beloved Hunger Games character. If this turns out to be true, the upcoming prequel will continue a controversial casting trend for the Hunger Games adaptations.

Related 10 Hunger Games Characters Who Still Deserve Prequels After Haymitch's Some of the best characters from The Hunger Games, including Finnick, Johanna, and China, deserve their own prequels after Sunrise on the Reaping.

The Hunger Games Movies Have A History Of Casting Characters With Older Actors

Many Of The Franchise's Stars Are Older Than Their Characters

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The rumors of Faist playing Haymich in Sunrise on the Reaping have been met with significant backlash, as the West Side Story actor is currently 32 years old. This means he'd be playing a character half his age in The Hunger Games prequel, which could be hard to sell. Of course, this wouldn't be the first time The Hunger Games movies brought in stars older than their characters. The gap between Faist's and Haymitch's ages is on the larger side, but the franchise has a habit of doing this.

If Faist is cast as Haymitch, he'll be the most extreme example of this trend — but it still wouldn't be that surprising.

Jennifer Lawrence was 20 years old when she started playing Katniss in The Hunger Games, making her four years older than the movie's heroine. Liam Hemsworth was 21 when he took on the role of Gale, who is 18 when the first movie opens. And both Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds leads are older than their characters. Rachel Zegler was six years Lucy Gray's senior at 22, and Tom Blyth had 10 years on Coriolanus Snow at 28. If Faist is cast as Haymitch, he'll be the most extreme example of this trend — but it still wouldn't be that surprising.

Related How Old The Hunger Games Cast Was Compared To Their Characters The Hunger Games cast features the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth – how old were the main actors during filming?

Sunrise On The Reaping's Movie Will Likely Cast An Actor Older Than Haymitch Should Be

It Fits With The Franchise's History & The Rumors

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Despite the criticisms of Sunrise on the Reaping's casting rumors, the new Hunger Games movie will likely choose an actor older than Haymitch should be. It's not easy finding child and teen stars who can successfully helm such a major franchise. And given how well casting older stars has worked for previous Hunger Games films, it's unlikely Lionsgate will change its approach now. Franchise tradition suggests whoever brings Haymitch to life will be at least a few years older — and the rumors hint it could be more than that.

While the reports of Faist's casting haven't been confirmed yet, they also indicate that Lionsgate is looking for older talent for Sunrise on the Reaping. Even popular fancasts, like Tom Glynn-Carney and Tanner Buchanan, would see actors in their 20s playing the District 12 victor. Based on previous installments in the franchise, it's unlikely the Hunger Games prequel will cast younger unknowns. It also wouldn't be the wisest move from a production perspective.

Why It Makes Sense For Hunger Games' Young Haymitch Actor To Be Older Than 16

An Older Star Can Work Full-Time On Sunrise On The Reaping

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While a teenage actor playing Haymitch might be more believable, it actually makes sense for Sunrise on the Reaping to cast someone older than 16. If an adult actor is portraying Haymitch, they'll be able to work full-time on the Hunger Games prequel, making production quicker and easier. Minors must juggle school with filming, which limits how much they can be on set. As Lionsgate seems determined to get the adaptation out a year after Suzanne Collins' book, casting a younger actor might not be feasible.

A seasoned star will be able to deliver a more emotional performance during the Hunger Games movie, driving home the trauma Haymitch experiences during and after the 50th Hunger Games.

An older actor will also come with more experience, which could make Haymitch's appearance in Sunrise on the Reaping more memorable. A seasoned star will be able to deliver a more emotional performance during the Hunger Games movie, driving home the trauma Haymitch experiences during and after the 50th Hunger Games tournament. They're also more likely to live up to Harrelson's legacy as the character, which is a daunting task at any age. Needless to say, Sunrise on the Reaping's rumored casting might actually be a good thing. Now we'll just have to wait and see if they're true.