Elizabeth Banks Applauds New Haymitch Actor in ‘Sunrise’ Cast

WHO:

Variety - Elizabeth Banks played Effie Trinket in the first four films in *The Hunger Games* franchise.

Variety - Joseph Zada plays Haymitch in *The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping*.

Screen Rant - Suzanne Collins wrote the best-selling novel on which *The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping* is based.

Collider - The film will bring back three stars from the original four-film series.

WHAT:

Variety - Banks said she had seen *The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping* and called it “amazing.”

Variety - Banks described Zada as a “perfect” Haymitch.

Screen Rant - The film will feature a cast of actors confirmed for the production.

Collider - The film will reunite three actors from the original quadrilogy.

WHERE:

Variety - Banks spoke with Variety at the Airbnb.org Gala in Los Angeles.

WHY:

Screen Rant - The film adapts Collins’ novel *Sunrise on the Reaping*.

HOW:

Variety - Banks praised the film after viewing it and expressed her approval with “two thumbs” for the movie.

Screen Rant - The film is based on Collins’ best-selling novel.

(UPDATED October 30, 2026 12:00 UTC)

Elizabeth Banks says the upcoming Hunger Games film is amazing, praising Joseph Zada as Haymitch. The prequel adapts Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel, with Zada taking the central role. Three actors from the original films are returning, reuniting the franchise’s cast.