McKenna Grace is taking on the pivotal role of Maysilee Donner in the stacked cast of the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. She couldn’t be more excited for fans to find out more:
“…it has been such a beautiful experience… I’m just excited for them to see all of it. I’m excited for them to see the character, the hair, the makeup, the wardrobe, everything is so fun, especially for Maysilee Donner.”
Grace spoke to MovieWeb about the beloved character during her press tour for her next feature, also an adaptation, Regretting You, in which she stars alongside Allison Williams, Dave Franco, and Mason Thames. Alongside her in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be even more talent: Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, and Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickman.
For Grace, the role of Donner has lived up to her expectations, but she also feels the responsibility to deliver to her fellow fans, “We’re all just trying to do the fans justice with it.”
Who is Maysilee Donner in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?
Maysilee Donner is a legendary figure in Hunger Games lore. She was an ally of Haymitch Abernathy, a role originally played by Woody Harrelson, now being taken on by Joseph Zada in the upcoming prequel. We’ll keep spoilers limited, but Maysilee is known in part for being the original owner of the mockingjay pin, as well as being best friends with Katniss’ mother, Asterid Everdeen. The connection between Maysilee and Katniss means a lot to McKenna:
“I used to have a Hunger Games poster board up in my room as a kid, and I had a Nerf bow and arrow so I could be like Katniss Everdeen. I was a major fan.”
Regretting You and The Hunger Games: Sunrise of the Reaping are two of many films McKenna Grace has coming soon, including Five Nights At Freddies 2, Scream 7, and the ever looming possibility of more Ghostbusters.
McKenna was on set when she learned she’d be playing the part. “I actually found out that I booked the role while I was on ‘Regretting You.’ I was with my whole cast, and they were interrogating me. I was like, ‘Guys, I swear I didn’t even audition for Hunger Games.”
Regretting You is in Theaters October 24, 2025.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping