Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner: The Rising Star Taking on One of the Hunger Games' Most Tragic Characters

When Lionsgate announced in April 2025 that Mckenna Grace would portray Maysilee Donner in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the news sent shockwaves through the fandom. At just 19 years old, Grace had landed what industry insiders described as "the closest thing to the Katniss Everdeen role"—a career-defining part in one of Hollywood's most successful franchises. But this isn't just another casting announcement. It's a convergence of perfect timing: a rising star at the peak of her powers meeting a character whose tragic story has haunted Hunger Games readers for years.

The Role That Changed Everything

The casting process for Maysilee Donner was fiercely competitive. Grace herself admitted she never thought she'd actually get the part, especially after becoming a popular fan-casting choice online. "I had just gotten the call in my trailer that morning that I had booked the role," Grace revealed in an interview with Teen Vogue. "I had been crying all morning, because I was like, I did not think I was going to get it, especially with the fan castings." That moment of disbelief speaks volumes about the significance of this role. Set 24 years before the events of the original Hunger Games trilogy, Sunrise on the Reaping tells the story of the 50th Hunger Games—the Second Quarter Quell—featuring a young Haymitch Abernathy as the male tribute from District 12. Maysilee is his fellow tribute and eventual ally, making her character central to the emotional core of the film.

Who Is Maysilee Donner?

For those unfamiliar with Suzanne Collins' expanded Hunger Games universe, Maysilee Donner is far more than just another tribute. She lived on the merchant side of District 12, above her parents' sweet shop, and was the twin sister of Merrilee Undersee—making her the maternal aunt of Madge Undersee, who would later give Katniss Everdeen the iconic mockingjay pin. That pin? It originally belonged to Maysilee. Described as resourceful, blunt, and fashionable with a love for jewelry and necklaces, Maysilee enters the 50th Hunger Games as one of 48 tributes (the Quarter Quell featured double the usual number). She uses a blowgun with poison-tipped darts as her weapon and forms a strategic alliance with Haymitch that evolves into a genuine, sibling-like bond. But it's her death that makes Maysilee one of the franchise's most tragic figures.

A Death That Still Resonates

Maysilee Donner finishes in fourth place—the highest any District 12 tribute has placed without winning. Just as the final four tributes remain, she makes the heartbreaking decision to break her alliance with Haymitch, not wanting to face the possibility of having to kill someone she's come to care about. Shortly after their separation, she's attacked by Capitol-engineered muttations—candy-pink birds that skewer her neck. Haymitch reaches her in time to hold her hand as she dies. Grace described filming these emotional scenes as "gut-punchy," noting that "everybody's going to be, like, freaking sobbing in the theaters." The tragedy doesn't end there. The Capitol edits the official recap of the Games to erase Maysilee's defiant behavior, making it appear she simply abandoned her ally. Her death and the Capitol's propaganda treatment of it leave her twin sister Merrilee struggling with severe depression and morphling addiction for the rest of her life.

A Star on the Rise

If anyone can do justice to such a complex, heartbreaking character, it's Mckenna Grace. With 76 IMDB credits by age 19, Grace has built one of the most impressive young careers in Hollywood. Her breakthrough came with the 2017 film Gifted, earning her a Critics' Choice Movie Award nomination for Best Young Performer. She made history as the first child to receive a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for The Handmaid's Tale. In 2020, she won the Hollywood Critics Association Next Generation of Hollywood award. Grace has become a fixture in major franchises, portraying Phoebe Spengler in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, appearing in Captain Marvel, and taking on recurring roles in acclaimed series like The Handmaid's Tale and Young Sheldon. She even wrote, executive produced, and starred in the Lifetime sequel The Bad Seed Returns, demonstrating creative talents beyond acting. Her upcoming slate is equally impressive: Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Scream 7, Regretting You, and now The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. As Forbes noted in February 2026, Grace has appeared in approximately a dozen major IP franchises, making her "inescapable" in Hollywood.

Why This Role Matters

The comparison to Jennifer Lawrence's career-launching role as Katniss Everdeen isn't hyperbolic. Maysilee Donner is the female lead of Sunrise on the Reaping, and while her fate is sealed by the source material, the emotional weight she carries is immense. This is a character who represents the innocence and humanity the Capitol seeks to destroy. She's a symbol of resistance—the original bearer of the mockingjay pin that would eventually spark a revolution. Her relationship with Haymitch mirrors the bond between Katniss and Rue, making her death all the more devastating. Grace understands the assignment. Despite describing her character as "the meanest, most stuck-up girl in town" at the start, she's clearly invested in the emotional journey. Watching her co-star during filming, she noted it was "rough" and "gut-punchy"—a testament to the depth both actors are bringing to these roles.

Preparing for the Games

To embody Maysilee, Grace has revealed some of her preparation techniques, including listening to Charli XCX's "Von dutch" to get into character. It's these small details—combined with her natural talent and work ethic—that suggest she'll deliver a performance that honors both the character and the devoted Hunger Games fanbase.

The Countdown Begins

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping arrives in theaters November 20, 2026. For Mckenna Grace, it's the culmination of years of hard work, a role she never thought she'd land, and an opportunity to leave her mark on one of literature and cinema's most beloved franchises. For fans, it's the chance to finally see Maysilee Donner's story on screen—to witness the tragedy, the humanity, and the defiance that made her an unforgettable character. And if Grace's track record is any indication, we're in for something special. The Games may have already claimed Maysilee Donner in the pages of Suzanne Collins' novel, but Mckenna Grace is about to make her immortal on screen.