There are surely plenty of actors who are hungry for a part in the next Hunger Games prequel film. Rumor has it that Mike Faist is one of the … challengers up for a main role. But where’s the proof? On Friday, X user @21metgala tweeted that Faist was “set to star†in Sunrise on the Reaping, which will tell “the story of how a young Haymitch†became a victor. Much of the internet immediately began trying to wrap their heads around the idea of 32-year-old Faist playing a 16-year-old, since that’s how old Haymitch would’ve been when he competed in the Fiftieth Hunger Games. @21metgala’s viral tweet cites Production Weekly as its source. But in Production Weekly’s listing, a brief synopsis simply states that the film picks up on the morning of the reaping of the Second Quarter Quell. “Mike Faist mentioned for the male lead,†a parenthetical note adds. That slightly vague description opens us up to a few more possibilities:
- Haymitch is not the protagonist, or there is more than one male lead. Either way, Faist will play a character who is closer to his actual age.
- The film “mentioned†Faist for the role in the same way that stans like to “mention†Beyoncé’s yet-to-be-released Renaissance visuals or Rihanna’s allegedly real next album — with hope, but no real power.
- The source is wrong. Faist isn’t involved in the film, and the poor thing is very confused right now.
- Faist is in talks, but hasn’t made up his mind. He’s sneakily gauging everyone’s reactions right now to see whether this is a good career move.
- Faist is 100% ready to play a young Haymitch, and is gonna how-do-you-do-fellow-kids his way through the movie.
Now, author Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping book isn’t due until 2025, so we’ll have to wait a while to learn more about the plot (and then even longer until the film is expected to drop on November 20, 2026). Back when the book and movie were first announced, Collins said in a statement that Sunrise on the Reaping was inspired by philosopher David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and “the easiness with which the many are governed by the few.†She added, “The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day.†So does the internet want this young Haymitch casting rumor to be real or not real? Below, find a mixed bag of memes.