Summary

Ellie Fanning cast as Effie Trinket in new Hunger Games prequel, popular choice with fans.
Joseph Zada to play young Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
Sunrise on the Reaping will include Effie Trinket's younger version, exciting fans eager to see her backstory.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is gaining an impressive list of actors as the franchise prepares to continue growing. The character of Effie Trinket is the latest to be cast. The movie will serve as a prequel to the original films, which starred Jennifer Lawrence and Elizabeth Banks.

Ellie Fanning will play the eccentric Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and the decision to cast her has proven popular with fans. Many people are pleased with how similar she appears to Banks, which should lead to the two versions of Trinket feeling rather similar. However, the original actress has now weighed in on the matter, offering her opinion on this decision.

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By Tyler Mitchell

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set years before the original movies and will focus on Haymitch Abernathy. He was originally played by Woody Harrelson, but Joseph Zada will take on the younger version of the role, as fans will get to experience what happened to him inside the Games. Trinket is part of that story, and Banks is thrilled with the casting decision, as she explained to PEOPLE.

She said, "I'm super excited. I texted the producers as well, and I think she's perfect. I think everyone's really happy. And I'm really happy about that. I'm excited for the next generation to have their Effie."

Fanning will have big shoes to fill when she takes on this iconic role due to the performances that Banks delivered. She portrayed Trinket in all four of the original Hunger Games movies, which sees her character undergo a drastic change. She goes from being eccentric, brash, and, at times, arrogant to being one of the franchise's most vulnerable, emotional, and raw characters. It provided a challenge, but it was one that Banks certainly delivered on, with Trinket becoming a fan favorite throughout the course of those movies. The combination of Banks' performance and the fact that Trinket has a brilliant story helped to make her a memorable part of the films, which will add no shortage of pressure this time around.

Trinket was not part of the previous prequel movie, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes because that story is set before she's introduced to Panem. However, this time around, Trinket will be part of the tale, as she is in the novel that is serving as the inspiration. It will give audiences the opportunity to see what a younger version of the character is like showcasing how she develops her bold fashion sense and unique attitude, which many people love so much. At this point in the timeline, Trinket works as the emergency escort and stylist for the District 12 tributes, helping to make them stand out as much as possible.

Fanning joins an impressive cast that will bring this story to life, portraying a mixture of familiar characters and a whole host of new ones. At this stage, Zada, Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons, Mckenna Grace, and Maya Hawke have already been confirmed for the movie. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set to be released worldwide on November 20, 2026, allowing fans to explore the world of Panem once again as the story develops even further.

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