The upcoming Sunrise on the Reaping prequel will explore more than Haymitch Abernathy’s brutal journey through the Second Quarter Quell, with the film also offering an early look at his complicated relationship with Effie Trinket. Stars Joseph Zada and Elle Fanning have teased moments of understated chemistry between their younger versions of the characters.

Set years before Katniss Everdeen’s story, the film follows a young Haymitch as he enters the Hunger Games and confronts events that will shape his future and the wider history of Panem. Zada takes over the role previously played by Woody Harrelson, while Fanning portrays a younger Effie, the character made famous by Elizabeth Banks in the original film series.

Effie is intrigued by Haymitch

Fanning has revealed that Effie is immediately curious about Haymitch when they first encounter each other.

The actor described the young tribute as a “rascal” and “bad boy” who catches Effie’s attention. While the film does not appear to turn their relationship into a conventional romance, several small moments are designed to suggest the beginnings of the bond audiences know from the original franchise.

Fanning said there are moments when the two characters notice each other, with Effie occasionally becoming flustered before quickly attempting to hide her reaction.

The restrained approach gives the relationship an additional layer without taking attention away from the central story of survival.

Haymitch has other priorities

Director Francis Lawrence has stressed that Haymitch is not actively pursuing Effie during the events of the prequel.

His attention is firmly focused on surviving the Games, while his emotional commitment remains with his girlfriend, Lenore Dove, played by Whitney Peak.

That distinction appears important to the filmmakers, allowing the developing connection between Haymitch and Effie to remain subtle rather than turning the story into a love triangle.

Joseph Zada has also suggested that Haymitch begins to develop a soft spot for Effie after recognising something beneath her Capitol upbringing.

Although Effie has been raised to believe that the Hunger Games are justified, Haymitch discovers that she genuinely wants to help people.

That understanding becomes an important part of the relationship between the two characters and may help explain the complicated dynamic that audiences later see in the original films.

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A new chapter for the ‘Hayffie’ dynamic

Longtime fans of the franchise will be familiar with the fan-favourite “Hayffie” pairing involving Haymitch and Effie.

The new film offers an opportunity to revisit that connection from an entirely different perspective by showing the characters before they became the adults portrayed by Harrelson and Banks.

The connection is particularly notable because the original actors shared an improvised kiss at the conclusion of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, a moment that became memorable among fans of the pairing.

The prequel’s approach appears to build on that history without simply recreating it.

Instead, the filmmakers are introducing small interactions that allow audiences to see how an unexpected emotional connection might have begun.

Cast bring fan perspective to prequel

The cast members have also acknowledged that their own familiarity with the franchise influenced how they approached the new film.

For Zada and Fanning, taking on characters already strongly associated with Harrelson and Banks meant balancing the expectations of longtime fans with the need to establish younger, distinct versions of Haymitch and Effie.

That challenge is particularly significant for Haymitch, whose younger life has remained largely unexplored on screen despite his importance to Katniss’s story.

Sunrise on the Reaping is therefore expected to expand the mythology of Panem while giving audiences a deeper understanding of the experiences that shaped one of the franchise’s most complex characters.

The developing connection between Haymitch and Effie is only one part of that story, but its subtle treatment could give the prequel an emotional link to the original Hunger Games films without overshadowing the darker events of the Second Quarter Quell.