Original ‘Hunger Games’ Star Elizabeth Banks Praises ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ as ‘Amazing’: Joseph Zada Is a ‘Perfect’ Haymitch

Elizabeth Banks has given two thumbs to “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.”

“I’ve seen the film, and it’s amazing,” Banks, who played Effie Trinket in the first four movies of the “Hunger Games” franchise from 2012-2015, told me Wednesday night at the Airbnb.org Gala in Los Angeles.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel “Sunrise on the Reaping,” the new movie centers on a young Haymitch (Joseph Zada, taking over the role from Woody Harrelson) as he fights to survive while competing in the 50th Hunger Games. The cast also features Jesse Plemons as Plutarch, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Maya Hawke as Wiress and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee. New characters in the film franchise are played by the likes of Mckenna Grace, Glenn Close and Whitney Peak, among others.

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson return as Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch in a flash-forward scene.

“Joseph is a perfect Woody Harrelson,” Banks said. “He’s fantastic. I can’t wait for people to see it.”

Earlier this month, I talked to Zada about his work on the movie. His first day filming took place on the Cornucopia. “You’re sitting there and there are 47 other kids around, and there’s a this massive drone, so there’s no crew,” he said. “It was the most mental place to film. Getting ready to run into it, I had all those nerves and it worked out for the character.”

He recalled sharing scenes with Plemons. “He’s so good, and once you get into a little bit, he’s so easy to play with that you really feel like you’re on fire in the moment.”

Close proved to be a jokester at times. “She would growl at me,” Zada said, laughing. “She was so lovely all the time, [but] she’d flip into the character and she’d look at you and hiss. You’re just startled. Just for fun, just to mess with people, I guess.”

He added, “She’s the most wonderful person ever, so generous outside of acting as well. Just always wanted to come up to me and talk and see how I was doing. She’s gorgeous.”

“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” opens in theaters Nov. 20 from Lionsgate.