Joseph Zada to star as teenage Haymitch in new Hunger Games film

Joseph Zada, 21, was selected from thousands of applicants to portray a teenage Haymitch Abernathy in “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.” The film opens in theaters on Nov. 20.

Zada, an Australian actor, had just finished filming for Netflix’s “East of Eden” when he auditioned for the role. He previously played Cal Trask, a part once held by James Dean. Director Francis Lawrence described the casting challenge as filling “big shoes,” since Woody Harrelson established the character’s adult persona in the earlier films.

The production features several well-known actors playing younger versions of Capitol officials. Ralph Fiennes portrays President Snow, while Jesse Plemons plays Plutarch Heavensbee. Elle Fanning is cast as Effie Trinket and Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson appear in an epilogue, a fact the studio kept secret until the release date approached.

Producer Nina Jacobson noted that the character requires a specific quality of mischief that is either present or absent in an actor. Zada stated his goal was to start the performance away from Harrelson’s interpretation and then bridge the gap as the story progressed.

Filming took place over five months across locations in Spain and Germany. The schedule was not linear, which Zada said “freaked me out so much.” He and Whitney Peak, who plays his character’s girlfriend Lenore Dove, shot the first and last scenes of the movie back-to-back without knowing the order until the final moment.

Mckenna Grace, who plays District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner and her twin, described the physical demands of the shoot as intense, with six-day work weeks. She was initially nervous about a scene involving a slap delivered to Glenn Close, who plays Drusilla Sickle. Grace said she feared Close would ask her to use method acting techniques, but Close allowed her to use stage combat choreography instead.

The series has sold over 100 million copies of the novels and earned more than $3.3 billion at the box office. The previous installment, “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” made over $347 million worldwide. Author Suzanne Collins has not confirmed whether the story will continue after this film.

Lawrence said he is comfortable with the uncertainty, noting that Collins writes without obligation to stakeholders or fan service. “This could be the end, or there could be something happening in the world that’s inspiring her or will inspire her,” he said. He added that the next project could arrive in six weeks or five years.