It's not every day that an Australian actor gets catapulted from relative obscurity to the glitz of Hollywood. We saw it happen with Margot Robbie, who went from a Neighbours regular to The Wolf of Wall Street seemingly overnight. Then there was Jacob Elordi, who left Brisbane for Hollywood with his role as Nate on Euphoria, and never looked back. Now, it seems like history is repeating itself, with Australian actor Joseph Zada named as the lead in the hotly-anticipated latest instalment of the Hunger Games franchise: Sunrise On The Reaping.
So, who is the actor we're about to see everywhere? Everything we know about Zada, below.
Who is Joseph Zada?
While you might not be familiar with his name yet, you're certainly about to be, with Zada landing the role of young Haymitch in Sunrise On The Reaping. The character was first brought to life by Woody Harrelson in the original Hunger Games books but with this latest instalment, we'll see a whole new side to him. In the forthcoming film, Zada will play 16-year-old District 12 resident Haymitch, who’s name is reaped in the Hunger Games. But these games feature a twist: twice the number of tributes, with 48 children sent into the arena to battle for their lives.
As for Zada, the 20-year-old hails from Sydney, and already has a few film and television credits to his name. Most notably, he's set to star in the upcoming Prime Video series, We Were Liars, which is adapted from E. Lockhart‘s YA novel by the same name. Prior to this, he had a role in Stan's Invisible Boys, which debuted in February 2025, and appeared in the Australian series Total Control, and the 2019 film, Bilched.
What do we know about his role in Sunrise On The Reaping?
Without giving too much away to those who haven't yet read the book, we know the role of young Haymitch will ask a lot from Zada. But it seems he's more than up for the task, apparently beating out hundreds of other actors for the part.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erin Westerman said, “After auditioning hundreds of gifted performers from around the world, [Zada and co-star Whitney Peak] stood out—not just for their talent, but for the emotional truth they brought to these iconic roles. Haymitch has always been a fan favourite, and his origin story is one of the most anticipated in the franchise. His relationship with Lenore Dove is deeply woven into the emotional history of Panem. We can’t wait for fans to experience the story that shaped one of the most compelling characters in the series.”
Producer Nina Jacobson shared a similar sentiment, saying, “Deb Zane and Dylan Jury oversaw an exhaustive (and exhausting!) search to find a young actor with the skill and imagination to embody young Haymitch. Jo prepared like crazy and stole our hearts. Then Whitney took our breath away as Lenore Dove. When we put the two of them together, it was one of those magical casting moments when you know your search has led you home.”
Needless to say, we are so excited to see what Zada brings to this role when Sunrise On The Reaping premieres in November, 2026.
