Sydney-born actor Joseph Zada is gaining attention as one of the lead cast members of the upcoming film Sunrise on the Reaping, a prequel to the popular Hunger Games series. The 21-year-old joined fellow actors Mckenna Grace, Whitney Peak, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, and Jesse Plemons for the first public appearance of the cast in London this week, ahead of the film’s scheduled release next month.

Zada portrays a young Haymitch Abernathy, a character previously played by Woody Harrelson in the original Hunger Games films. Speaking recently in Sydney, Zada expressed enthusiasm about the growing global interest in the project while emphasizing the film’s faithfulness to Suzanne Collins’ original novels. He noted that fans would appreciate the prequel for adhering closely to the source material and the tone of the earlier films, while also introducing fresh elements intended to engage viewers.

The franchise has experienced a surge in excitement following comments from Jennifer Lawrence, who originally portrayed Katniss Everdeen. Lawrence confirmed that she, along with Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson, would be returning for the new film. She described revisiting the series as a "beautiful" and "unbelievable" experience.

Sunrise on the Reaping aims to expand the Hunger Games universe by exploring the origins of its dystopian setting and the background of several key characters. The film is anticipated to attract both longtime fans and new audiences when it premieres next month.