Maya Hawke from Stranger Things is set to join the upcoming Hunger Games film.

      Netflix's Stranger Things might be concluding this year, but Maya Hawke has already secured her next franchise role. The actress will take on a supporting part in the upcoming Hunger Games movie, Sunrise on the Reaping.

      According to Entertainment Weekly, Hawke is set to play Wiress, the victor of the 49th Hunger Games, a character previously brought to life by Amanda Plummer in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Sunrise on the Reaping takes place two decades before the films featuring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. In this new installment, Wiress serves as the mentor for District 12's tributes, including Haymitch Abernathy, portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original films. Joseph Zada has also been cast as a young Haymitch.

      Wiress and Haymitch are not the only recognizable characters making a return in the prequel. Kelvin Harrison Jr., from Mufasa: The Lion King, will play Beetee, a role previously filled by Jeffrey Wright in earlier films. Beetee, who had already triumphed in the Hunger Games before the events of this film, faces the challenge of mentoring his 12-year-old son, Ampert, who has been selected as one of the tributes.

      Recently, Jesse Plemons was cast as Plutarch Heavensbee, a character originally portrayed by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Whitney Peak is set to play Haymitch's partner, Lenore Dove Baird, while Lili Taylor is reportedly taking on the role of Mags, another past Hunger Games winner who was previously played by Lynn Cohen.

      Author Suzanne Collins released her novel Sunrise on the Reaping earlier this year, achieving impressive sales figures. Francis Lawrence, who has directed all the Hunger Games films except for the first, will also helm Sunrise on the Reaping. Billy Ray, co-writer of the first Hunger Games film, is tasked with writing the script for this upcoming movie.

      The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled to premiere in theaters on November 20, 2026.

      Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His work has been featured in Wizard Magazine, Geek...

      Stranger Things: The First Shadow is set to debut on Broadway in 2025. The successful stage adaptation will begin previews at the Marquis Theatre on March 28, 2025, and will officially open on April 22, 2025.

      Based on Netflix's acclaimed sci-fi series, Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a prequel set in 1959, showcasing the arrival of a young Henry Creel and his family in Hawkins, Indiana. Henry yearns for a typical childhood, yet his telekinetic abilities hinder his attempts to fit in. Ultimately, Creel finds himself at Hawkins National Laboratory, where he is destined to become 001, the patient who evolves into Vecna from Stranger Things season 4.

      Netflix’s Geeked Week 2024 is set to return, starting on September 16, 2024. The week-long event will culminate in a live fan gathering in Atlanta on September 19, 2024. First launched in 2021, this fourth installment of Geeked Week will spotlight Netflix's most popular franchises in movies, TV shows, and games, particularly in the genres of action, sci-fi, and fantasy. Viewers can look forward to announcements, first glimpses, and video reveals from some of the streamer's notable titles. Featured projects mentioned in the promo video include Stranger Things, Squid Game, Wednesday, The Sandman, Cobra Kai, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Black Mirror, One Piece, and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.

      The Duffer Brothers are continuing their collaboration with Netflix on a new horror series. The creators of Stranger Things, along with Hilary Leavitt, will executive produce Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, a horror drama created by Haley Z. Boston.

      “We were blown away when we first read Haley’s script,” the Duffer Brothers shared in a statement. “She is an extraordinary new talent with a distinct voice—her writing is dark, chilling, humorous, and entirely … very Haley. We feel incredibly fortunate to produce her debut show and are eager to present her vision to the world.”