Stranger Things Star Maya Hawke Cast as Wiress in Hunger Games Prequel Sunrise on the Reaping

Maya Hawke, known for her role in Stranger Things, has been cast as Wiress in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, which is set 24 years before the original series and focuses on a young Haymitch Abernathy competing in the 50th Hunger Games. Wiress, previously portrayed by Amanda Plummer in Catching Fire, is a former Hunger Games victor and mentor who plays a crucial role in helping other tributes survive; Hawke's portrayal will explore Wiress before her eccentric and quiet demeanor established in later events. The film, directed by Francis Lawrence with a screenplay by Billy Ray, also stars Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee. Based on Suzanne Collins' novel released in 2025, the story will depict the brutal Second Quarter Quell featuring 48 tributes fighting to the death, doubling the usual number. The casting of Hawke and others has been praised, with some actors from the original franchise expressing enthusiasm for this fresh take on the Hunger Games universe. Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled for release in November 2026, continuing to expand the lore and character backgrounds of the dystopian world.