First Look: Young Haymitch Stuns in Hunger Games Prequel Set Photo
A sharp new set photo from The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping lands from Germany, spotlighting Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch Abernathy beneath a gleaming Capitol Victor poster touting his win. Francis Lawrence’s prequel rewinds to the 50th Hunger Games with bold propaganda flair.
We just got a sneaky little taste of young Haymitch Abernathy, courtesy of a fresh set photo from Germany. It is a classic Capitol propaganda poster, and it does exactly what the Capitol does best: brag.
The shot everyone is passing around
On September 22, 2025, Hunger Games fan account @thedistrictdispatch shared an on-location photo snapped by @4gewinnt66 that shows a giant 'Victor' poster of Joseph Zada as Haymitch. It reads like the Capitol is patting itself on the back right after the 50th Hunger Games, which is when Haymitch wins. It is also our first real look at Zada in character.
"Our Victor"
Fans did the thing fans do: a lot of screaming and all-caps gratitude. Think, 'OMG I am screaming,' 'Our victor,' 'Haymiiiiitchhhhhh,' and my personal favorite: 'I wake up to this gem? YES PLEASE THG GODS PLZ BLESS ME WITH THIS INCREDIBLE NEWS EVERY MORNING.'
Where this lands in Panem history
'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' adapts Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel about the 50th Games, the Quarter Quell where the Capitol doubled the tributes from 24 to 48 as a punishment twist. Francis Lawrence is back directing, and the movie is set for November 2026. Story-wise, this one bridges the gap between 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' and the original trilogy, zeroing in on how Haymitch became the victor we met decades later.
So, who is Haymitch this time?
Joseph Zada landed the role in April 2025, stepping into the younger version of the character that Woody Harrelson made iconic across the four original films. Harrelson played the grizzled mentor to Katniss and Peeta; Zada is playing the tribute who survives the Quarter Quell and earns that mentor status the hard way.
Design nerds, you will like this
The set dressing leans into a 1960s/70s-flavored Capitol vibe: bold propaganda art, industrial walls, and deliberately beaten-up textures. Alongside the Haymitch poster, other recent glimpses have teased Peacekeeper cars and what appears to be Ralph Fiennes as President Snow. File that last bit under intriguing-if-true, since it is from set spotting, not a formal announcement.
- Title: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
- Director: Francis Lawrence
- Filming: Germany (set photo captured by @4gewinnt66, shared by @thedistrictdispatch on Sept 22, 2025)
- Lead twist: Capitol 'Victor' poster of Joseph Zada as Haymitch with the slogan 'Our Victor'
- Source material: Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel
- Setting: The 50th Hunger Games (Quarter Quell that doubled tributes from 24 to 48)
- Continuity: Bridges 'Songbirds and Snakes' to the original trilogy
- Cast note: Zada was cast April 2025; Woody Harrelson played older Haymitch in the four originals
- Production design: 60s/70s-inspired Capitol propaganda, industrial surfaces, weathered textures
- Other sightings: Peacekeeper vehicles; set photo chatter points to Ralph Fiennes as President Snow
- Release: November 2026
First picked up by Anubhav Chaudhry over at SuperHeroHype, if you are tracking the breadcrumb trail.