Kelvin Harrison Jr. has been cast as Beetee in Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” an adaptation of the bestselling book by Suzanne Collins. He joins previously announced cast members Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee.
Harrison Jr. recently voiced the role of Taka in “Mufasa: The Lion King” and will star as Jean-Michel Basquiat in “Samo Lives,” for which he will also serve as executive producer.
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Beetee Latier, portrayed by Jeffrey Wright in the original “Hunger Games” films beginning with “Catching Fire,” is the champion of the 34th Hunger Games and father of Ampert Latier, Tribute in the 50th Hunger Games.
The “Sunrise on the Reaping” film will be released on Nov. 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence will direct from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray. Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will produce. Cameron MacConomy will executive produce.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” opens with the young Plutarch Heavensbee in District 12, capturing the reaping of the Tributes there. Published on March 18, the novel revisits the world of Panem 24 years before the events of “The Hunger Games,” starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” sold 1.5 million copies in its first week on sale in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The 1.2 million copies sold in the U.S. are twice the first week sales of previous series entries “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and three times the first week sales of “Mockingjay.”
Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien are overseeing the project for Lionsgate. Robert Melnik negotiated the deal for the studio. Harrison Jr. is represented by WME, Anonymous Content, and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang.
The InSneider was first to report the casting.
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