While many are intrigued by the question of who will play a young Haymitch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the movie will also need to cast the likely dueteragonist Maysilee Donner. Following Suzanne Collins’ first Hunger Games prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, the bestselling author announced another novel taking place 40 years later. The Sunrise on the Reaping novel and movie are expected to follow Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson in the Hunger Games movies) the year he wins the 50th Hunger Games.

However, Haymitch wins the 50th Games, which has twice as many tributes as usual, with some help from Maysilee, one of the female tributes from District 12. Haymitch and Maysilee are allies in the arena for a time; they part ways when there are only a handful of tributes left and Maysilee is killed by the arena’s deadly fauna shortly thereafter. While Sunrise on the Reaping‘s release dates are confirmed, casting is still a ways off. However, whoever ends up playing Maysilee will need to embody her practical and resolved nature as well as her complicated relationship with Haymitch.

10

Ever Anderson

Known For Black Widow (2021) & Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)

Ever Anderson possesses the kind of whimsical yet hardened quality that would serve Maysilee’s character well. Anderson first gained attention for playing young Natasha in Black Widow‘s flashback opening. In these brief scenes, Anderson shows how Natasha is already a strategist with a solid understanding of what her surrogate parents are doing, as well as practically prepared for a fight. She is also deeply protective of her younger sister, something Anderson could draw upon for any scenes where Maysilee discusses her own sister.

Anderson plays another older sister and young heroine in the making in Peter Pan & Wendy, which received decent reviews among the barrage of Disney live-action remakes. However, Anderson is definitely capable of returning to a darker story for Sunrise on the Reaping. These two movies and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter are Anderson’s only titles to date, but her strong performances are the start of a successful career.

9

Sofia Wylie

Known For The School Of Good And Evil (2022) & High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019-2023)

Neither The School for Good and Evil nor the High School Musical series are the best examples of quality writing in the industry, but Sofia Wylie manages to give decent performances in both. In the former, her character Agatha is positioned as the fairy tale-like princess who sees through the tricks and traps set by the villains. She has a clever, ethereal quality that would suit Maysilee’s character well. Agatha finds herself in enough dangerous situations to demonstrate Wylie’s ability to play a character who can calmly navigate them.

Meanwhile, Wylie plays Gina, a Sharpay-like character desperately covering up her insecurities in High School Musical. It has less bearing on her potential to be in Sunrise on the Reaping, but it at least shows she is capable of some character versatility. Wylie hasn’t had the best opportunities to show what she can do as an actress, but may flourish as Maysilee.

8

Priah Ferguson

Known For The Curse Of Bridge Hollow (2022) & Stranger Things (2016-2025)

Some of Erica Sinclair’s most memorable lines in Stranger Things are things which, taken out of context, would not be out-of-place comments in the Hunger Games; namely, comments about survival, weapons, and people killing her friends. Priah Ferguson’s delivery is meant to be comedic in the context of Stranger Things’ dark yet wacky adventure. She might have to tone it down a little bit, but it’s not as if Katniss has never said anything funny in the arena to break up the desperate mood.

Luckily, Stranger Things season 4 shows Erica’s character becoming more mature and Ferguson skillfully blending a more serious mood with Erica’s customary sarcasm and insults. Ferguson could portray Maysilee in moments of peril, but would also be perfect for some funny interactions stemming from Maysilee and Haymitch both using dark humor to make light of the situation. The most challenging scene for Ferguson would probably be Maysilee’s death. However, she is an experienced actress, and her fans would doubtlessly be interested in seeing her take on this challenge.

7

Evie Allen

Known For House Of The Dragon (2022-Present)

Evie Allen guest stars in two episodes of House of the Dragon as a teenage Helaena Targaryen, before another time skip meant the role was passed on to Phia Saban. However, Allen makes an impression with the little time she has in the show, primarily portraying Helaena uttering strange prophecies no one takes seriously (when they really should). Allen effectively plays Helaena as an enigmatic character existing entirely in her own world, setting up the older version of the character Saban plays.

Allen’s experience portraying a girl who is wiser than people give her credit for makes her an interesting candidate to play Maysilee. Maysilee is probably more sociable than Helaena, as she is pretty upfront with Haymitch when they are allies and when they decide to part ways. However, Allen could still bring a sense of mystery to the role, especially when Maysilee’s character is inherently imbued with a kind of narrative mysticism, if the movie maintains that she carries the mockingjay pin with her in the arena.

6

Alison Fernandez

Known For Logan (2017) & Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)

Alison Fernandez’s past roles that best demonstrate her ability to play Maysilee are a few years old now, but still showcase her acting abilities. Fernandez plays Delilah in Logan, one of the artificially created mutant children who grew up alongside Dafne Keen’s Laura. Although the role is a small one, Fernandez got the chance to play a young character who still charges into a fight and is determined to keep moving forward, marching through the wilderness with other escapees.

Fernandez got more focus in a bigger role as Lucy in Once Upon a Time, Henry’s daughter who confidently tells some of the adults what’s what and demonstrates the kind of hopefulness that characterizes the entire show. Maysilee is all of these things: assertive, level-headed in a harsh environment, and still holding out hope that she will be the survivor. Since Once Upon a Time, Fernandez has appeared in the under-the-radar sitcom Team Kaylie and the TV movie Upside-Down Magic, but definitely has the potential to become the next big Hunger Games star.

5

Cailey Fleming

Known For The Walking Dead (2010-2022) & IF (2024)

Cailey Fleming certainly has the somewhat disturbing portrayal of a child who is far too accustomed to violence down due to her long-running role as Judith Grimes in The Walking Dead. Judith grows up amid the zombie apocalypse and is wielding swords and guns from a shockingly young age. She is also very intimidating in some scenes, threatening her enemies into submission, and demonstrates a kind of thoughtfulness when talking about strategy with the adults who raised her. Needless to say, Fleming gives a compelling performance throughout The Walking Dead.

However, Fleming still proves that she is capable of portraying emotions like sadness and horror in The Walking Dead. Her recent foray into a cinematic career with IF is a comedy, and doesn’t really show the far darker character she is capable of playing. Like Judith, Maysilee grows up in a harsh world and navigates the Games with a cool and calculating approach, even if she will be haunted by it later. This could be a much better movie opportunity for Fleming, allowing her to do what she is best at.

4

Julia Butters

Known For Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood (2019) & The Fabelmans (2022)

Julia Butters is hilarious in her supporting role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, as a child actor filming an Old West scenario with Leonardo DiCaprio’s character. Trudi is, at times, far more confident than the washed up star who is trying to get his career back on track. Maysilee is obviously in a much more dangerous situation, but Butters’ experience of playing this no-nonsense attitude could work for the character. Additionally, she has valuable experience in the action genre, namely The Gray Man, in which she stars alongside Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas.

More recently, Butters played one of the protagonist’s sisters in Steven Spielberg’s pseudo-biographical drama The Fabelmans. The genre of this movie demanded more emotional scenes from Butters, who plays a girl watching her parents’ marriage fall apart and setting an example for her younger sisters along with her brother. Butters is clearly a preferred choice to play child characters among Oscar contenders, and could shine if she were put in the spotlight.

3

Dior Goodjohn

Known For Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (2019-2022) & Percy Jackson And The Olympians (2023-Present)

Dior Goodjohn is among the up-and-coming young actors turning the Percy Jackson and the Olympians reboot as a success; in her case, as the tough camp bully Clarisse La Rue. All of Clarisse’s scenes in the first season are about intimidating Percy and showing off her combat skills — experience that should not be written off when it comes to Maysilee. Maysilee makes it on her own for some time before becoming allies with Haymitch and takes out several of the other tributes. She is ruthless in her own way, accepting the cost of survival.

Goodjohn can certainly play a friendlier character — leaning more towards Maysilee’s personality than Clarisse’s — based on her performances in other properties and her personality in real life. Additionally, Clarisse’s upcoming storylines in Percy Jackson show her to be more vulnerable and capable of compassion than before, something that Goodjohn probably had to read for when she auditioned. The Sunrise on the Reaping producers should definitely be keeping an eye out for Percy Jackson season 2 updates, as it may be all the proof they need that Goodjohn should be Maysilee.

2

Ella Anderson

Known For The Glass Castle (2017) & Suncoast (2024)

Ella Anderson has some drama-heavy acting experience, with her biggest claim to fame being The Glass Castle. Playing the younger version of Brie Larson’s character in this biopic, Anderson delivers some truly gut-wrenching scenes with perfectly drawn-out and nervously spoken lines. Jeanette is intelligent and protective, but she also has an adventurous streak. Since The Glass Castle, Anderson has also played a supporting role in Suncoast, another family drama.

Anderson is also pursuing a music career through her YouTube channel. As far as the themes of the rest of the Hunger Games franchise go, it would not be a surprise if music played a role in the story and Maysilee or Haymitch ended up singing something to comfort each other. Anderson is capable of portraying a lot of Maysilee’s core traits, but could also deliver a breathtaking musical performance.

1

Chloe Coleman

Known For Gundpowder Milkshake (2021) & Pain Hustlers (2023)

Chloe Coleman also has a practical-minded and down-to-earth presence on screen, as well as being action genre-savvy enough to star in a Hunger Games movie. She has so far played the child character that the adult protagonist has to support in movies like Pain Hustlers and Gunpowder Milkshake. In the former, she is the daughter of a corrupted pharmaceutical sales representative. In the latter, she is the child of an assassin’s latest target who falls under that same assassin’s protection.

In both cases, Coleman makes her own valuable contribution to the movie with a steady performance of a younger person trying to make sense of the adults around her — and in some cases, seeing things more clearly than they do. She is also a young actress who has primarily been cast as the supporting child co-star who deserves a chance to be the protagonist. She is a strong choice among a large pool of talent for Lionsgate to consider when casting Maysilee for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.