A bold return to the world of The Hunger Games, one of the most iconic franchises in publishing and motion picture history, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is the thrilling story of Haymitch Abernathy—eventual mentor to Katniss and Peeta, the Games that changed everything, and the spark that set a revolution in motion.
The film follows 16-year-old Haymitch (Joseph Zada) from District 12, beginning on the morning of the Reaping for the 50th Annual Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell—and the biggest Games yet, with twice as many tributes.
Set in the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, the story takes Haymitch into the Arena, where he forms an unlikely alliance with fellow tribute Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace) and joins a coalition determined to challenge the Capitol’s control under President Snow (Ralph Fiennes). As the competition unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take down the Games from within the Arena—igniting the rebellion that will change Panem forever.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping brings striking new cinematic scale and scope to the franchise, interweaving its timeless themes of rebellion and resistance with Haymitch’s heartrending odyssey of courage and its costs during the most consequential Games in history. The expansive cast of characters, some of which, like Haymitch, are familiar, while others are new and enrich the world of Panem, is set amid spectacularly striking settings. With Haymitch at its center, the film delivers on everything audiences love about The Hunger Games franchise, including its relentless action, the scale and dark pageantry of the Arena, the shocking world of Panem and its spectacle of showmanship and propaganda, and the deadly stakes for its ensemble of interconnected characters.
In celebration of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping, The Koalition spoke to actor Percy Daggs IV to learn more about his role as Ampert Latier from District 3 in Panem, being the son of Beetee Latier, a District 3 victor and inventor, the psychology of survival, the importance of alliances, and why Ampert is determined to stop these games once and for all.
“Ampert Latier is a very intelligent person, and this is coming from someone who’s beyond smart, like Beetee, who has taught him how to persevere with his intelligence and not his strength. He knows he’s undersized. He knows he’s the underdog. He knows he’s not meant to win this game. But, for him, that’s just all the more fuel and all the more opportunity to prove himself, because he knows that if you don’t believe in me, I believe in myself, and I’m going to prove you wrong. For him, that’s important because he already knows he’s won in the mental game. For him, maneuvering, using that, is very valuable, and he knows the tools he does have. He can find a way to use those like Haymitch Abernathy, who can help him in the areas he’s not as strong in,” says Daggs IV.
As the tributes arrive in the Capitol, Beetee is forced to serve as a mentor after plotting to sabotage Capitol communications during his Games. As punishment, Snow makes sure Beetee’s son, Ampert, is called to the Games as a tribute. Snow is triggered by how the Games are not fully bulletproof, and he’s challenged by Beetee’s intelligence. As a power play and to humble Beetee, he puts Ampert in the Games to remind Beetee that he’ll always be subjected to Snow’s reign.
But Snow doesn’t know Beetee’s son Ampert is the mastermind behind plans to undermine the Capitol. “He’s very intelligent, like his father. Ampert is working on an alliance between tributes from other districts, the Newcomers, to counter the hyper-aggressive and well-trained Career Pack from the wealthy District 1. So, he decided to build one of the biggest alliances the Games have ever seen.”
“Ampert and Beetee’s relationship is very tight, and you see that in the movie. You see the heartbreak in Beetee, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., and he did that wonderfully, by the way. But it’s their love for each other that is so close, and the things he’s taught him prepare him for this moment. He’s not worried about that because he knows he believed that eventually this was going to happen, and he knows that whatever comes, he’s prepared. He’s passing it down to him after his victory, and they have a plan to make it out, and that’s that payback he knows he’s there for. He wants to get back for that payback.”
In The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, alliances were not only survival tactics but provided a multitude of ways for characters to resist the Capitol’s control, maintain their humanity, and alter the course of Panem’s history.
In the novel, the “Newcomers” alliance was formed by Ampert to slow down the Career Packers. When uniting together Districts 7, 8, 10, 12, and others, they were able combine their resources, information, and created a coordinated defense against the Careers’ hunting tactics. As a result, they outlasted the Careers in the arena, were more aware the dangers surrouning them, and achieve more.
Just like the novel, this alliance is important to Ampert because, “We’re all stronger together, and that goes in the story and in real life.” Wherever, whatever, whatever you’re going through, it’s easier to get through with someone there for you, backing you up. And though there’s only one winner, we can all contribute to a better society, and that’s what Ampert sees. That’s what he believes. He sees that through Haymitch, and he believes that through him, his goal will be reached eventually, whether he’s there to see it or not.”
As the tributes arrive in the Capitol, they meet more characters familiar to fans: mentors Beetee, Wiress (Maya Hawke), Speedy, and Mags (Lili Taylor). Mentors are past district victors who guide and train new tributes, secure sponsors, and help them survive the Arena. “The four of them really push the revolution. They take a step and they make sure everything is in place when we get in there. That’s a key part of the movie pre-pre-arena. The steps they take to make sure we’re prepared not only for the entrance and the battle to come but also for the steps we’re about to take to end it. They make sure that’s all set in place, and they do everything in their power to set us up so we can knock it down.”
Maya Hawke plays Wiress, one of two mentors to the tributes of District 12, taking on a younger version of the role portrayed by Amanda Plummer in Catching Fire. Wiress won by hiding, never drawing a drop of blood, and by thinking her way out. There’s a passive, nonviolent resistance about her. Lili Taylor portrays the other District 12 mentor, Mags Flanagan, a role originated by Lynn Cohen in Catching Fire.
With their help and through the lessons his father taught him long before he stepped into the game, Ampert is able to see people’s strengths and how they can come and help together. But not everybody is on the same team and with the same plan. They can have their own motives. Which could leave him vulnerable. For Ampert, Daggs IV believes, “It has its ups and downs. When it comes to greeting someone or trying to get someone on your side, you see the good in them and see what is not only great in them but also something that can improve. It helps them as much as it helps you. That’s Ampert’s actual strength, in my eyes. He gives hope and sees hope in them, in us as we watch the movie, and for the rest of Panem.”
The Hunger Games Sunrise: on the Reaping was filmed in stunning and sometimes remote locations around the world, providing critical scale and authenticity to the Games. Moreover, its set design, costumes, cinematography, visual effects, and massive set pieces and action—all in service of the story—were brought to life by some of today’s most celebrated artists and technicians. It all works together to bring a visceral and immersive experience for audiences, with audacious, unexpected creative choices that always feel grounded during Ampert’s journey, which is the heart of the story.
“The mental preparation is actually much, much harder than the physical preparation, which is surprising to some. But in acting, it requires a lot of you. My family and I call it ‘Expensive,’ because in order to bring a good performance to the story, you have to be emotionally present, and you have to react as if it is happening to you. In The Hunger Games, we all know that’s a lot to do. All of us came with that emotional presence and that feeling, as if this is currently happening to us and it has never happened before. We have not done three takes beforehand. Every single take is new. Every single take is fresh. And for us, that was important to make such a great film, which is why it came out so amazing.”
“For Ampert, death is more about looking through life while living. He’s prepared for death. They all are. He knows what he does now is going to affect the future. He knows how he dies is important, and he’s not going to go down in fear, nor is he going to go down weak and cowering. Ampert is going to use his intelligence to make sure what he does is important, and it affects those coming after him and that he sends a message to his family at District 3 and to the rest of the world.”
“It’s very emotional for [both Ampert and his father]. It’s hard. You can see that family is everything to both of them. You can see how heartbreaking it is for Beetee as the movie goes on to see his son going through his actions. It’s painful. It’s hard for any parent. For Ampert, he’s going to do his dad’s justice, and he’s going to show he’s not scared. He’s going to do whatever he asks of him, and he’s going to try his heart out to make it out, to come back to him and the rest of his family: his father, his mother and all of his friends at home.”
“As for the physical preparation, I went through a lot. Stunt training, workouts – you’d have to go to stunt training and then come home with a paper to work out and do in your apartment. It was just that much. It was consistent. It was steady. We did that. We were out there working hard to bring such a great film to the screen.”
Whether Ampert lives or dies isn’t up to him. This senseless torture and death of children is what makes President Snow so sadistic and fuels his appetite for revenge. Despite this fact, it only strengthens Ampert’s belief the games must come to an end once and for all.
For Ampert, “the constant repetition of pain is undeserved. They don’t deserve the constant punishment. They’ve proven themselves. They’ve worked hard, and they want to be seen as equals, though they’re not treated that way. They’re going to fight for their freedom. Everybody deserves freedom, right? For them, gaining that and not being treated like animals is important.”
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will release in theaters on November 20th. To learn more about the movie and Ampert’s determination, check out our full interview in the video above.
Discover more from The Koalition
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
