Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’s New Haymitch Reveals Woody Harrelson’s Advice

Joseph Zada, who plays a young Haymitch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, says Woody Harrelson advised him to watch Cool Hand Luke. Harrelson, who portrayed Haymitch in the original films and returns as the older character, described the Paul Newman film as an influence on everything he has done.

The cast are taking their own approaches to familiar characters, rather than imitating earlier performances. Director Francis Lawrence encouraged Kelvin Harrison Jr. to make young Beetee his own, while Elle Fanning said Elizabeth Banks urged her to bring a personal take to Effie, with some nods to Banks in the costume and improvised dialogue. The film is due in cinemas on 20 November.