After three years, a brand new Hunger Games movie is finally coming to cinemas this November with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The latest entry in the popular YA movie franchise is the adaptation of the novel of the same name, which follows a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) as he won the 50th Hunger Games. This was an extra-special victory, as it was a Quarter Quell and featured double the number of tributes, 48. But it also tells his tragic backstory and reveals how he became the character we met in the original trilogy.
The hype is understandably real, and one of the film’s highlights so far has been its top-tier casting. Featuring Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, McKenna Grace, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Maya Hawke, and more, many fans have praised the accuracy of the casting, especially in terms of selecting actors who resemble the younger versions of characters first introduced over a decade ago. And included in Sunrise on the Reaping’s much-talked-about cast is Rada Rae, a 12-year-old Filipina-Austrian actress who is already making history. Get to know more of Rae and her role below.
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Meet Wellie
From the novels to the books, Filipinos are no strangers to The Hunger Games universe. But for the first time, we’ll be watching one of our own on the big screen, even if the character in the novel and film isn’t explicitly Filipino. Born in Tuguegarao City but currently based in Europe, Rae will play Wellie in Sunrise on the Reaping.
For those who aren’t familiar, Wellie is a District 6 tribute and one of the two female tributes from the district. She is described in the book as a frail, tiny girl, but with a kind heart. During the games, she forms a friendship with Haymitch after he convinces her and the rest of the District 6 tributes to join his group to have a better chance at survival. Without going into spoilers, Wellie is one of the more notable tributes in Sunrise on the Reaping, with her trustworthiness and relationship with Haymitch most likely playing a part in the movie’s story.
It will be interesting to see how Rae will bring that connection and vulnerability to the big screen. But even before the movie arrives in cinemas, Rae already made history as, at just 11 years old during filming, she is the youngest actress ever to play a tribute in The Hunger Games films, edging out Amandla Stenberg, who played Rue in the first movie when she was 12 years old, by a year.
Sunrise on the Reaping marks Rae’s first major Hollywood theatrical movie, but the young actress is already slowly building her resume and working with the biggest streaming services in the industry. She’s appeared in the Netflix mystery-thriller Exterritorial, acted on an episode of season 2 of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, the same season featuring Dolly de Leon, and most recently starred in the Prime Video series House of David. Aside from Sunrise on the Reaping, Rae will also star in her first lead movie role in A Little Bit Of Dying, which follows a father who pretends to be dead so his paintings can sell for more.
You can catch Rada Rae on The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping comes to Philippine cinemas on November 18.
Feature Image and Photos: RADA RAE (via Instagram), IMDB (via Website), Featured Image by Adriana Mrnjavac
Frequently Asked Questions
Rada Rae is a 12-year-old Filipina-Austrian actress who portrays Wellie, a District 6 tribute who forms a significant bond with a young Haymitch Abernathy during the games.
At only 11 years old during filming, Rae became the youngest actress ever to play a tribute in the Hunger Games film series, surpassing previous records.
The film serves as an adaptation of the novel, focusing on a young Haymitch Abernathy as he participates in the 50th Hunger Games, a tragic Quarter Quell.
Rae has built an impressive resume, appearing in the Netflix thriller Exterritorial, Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers (Season 2), the Prime Video series House of David, and the film A Little Bit Of Dying.
The highly anticipated film, featuring a star-studded cast including Elle Fanning and Ralph Fiennes, is scheduled to arrive in Philippine cinemas on November 18, 2026.
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