Mckenna Grace’s Lookbook Pays Tribute to the Original Hunger Games Films

Throughout the “Sunrise on the Reaping” press tour, Mckenna Grace has paid tribute to previous “The Hunger Games” films and actors through her fashion.

“Sunrise on the Reaping” is a prequel set 24 years before the original Hunger Games trilogy and follows the story of Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) as he fights in the 50th Hunger Games. The Capitol celebrates the second Quarter Quell by reaping double the tributes.

Grace plays Maysilee Donner, another tribute from District 12. Her character is quick-witted and spunky. She is not afraid to call out the Capitol’s injustice and their over-the-top fashion trends.

Grace wore a replica of Katniss Everdeen’s wedding dress from “Catching Fire” at the opening night of a costume exhibition titled “Elegance Is Authority: The Story, Style and Power of Panem” at the Musée Rodin in Paris.

At a fan event in London, Grace wore a custom, hand-beaded gown inspired by the beautiful landscape of the second Quarter Quell arena in “Sunrise on the Reaping,” designed by Almée Couture.

At the Berlin premiere, Grace donned a gown inspired by Katniss’ outfit from the tribute’s parade in “Catching Fire.” She also wore a dress inspired by Lucy Gray Baird from “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” and multiple dresses inspired by Effie Trinket’s butterfly dress.

Elle Fanning, who plays a young Effie Trinket, has joined in on the method dressing. Though not as literal, her press tour looks are inspired by the colors and silhouettes worn by Trinket.

“It’s so fun for me, just like getting to be a fan,” Grace said in an interview with Popsugar Australia, while wearing the same dress that Jena Malone, who plays Johanna Mason, wore during the “Catching Fire” press tour. “I’m definitely making as many references and things that I can.”

As a longtime fan of the “The Hunger Games” franchise, Grace has put a lot of care and attention into her role as Maysilee. She prepared for the role by watching a fan film about Haymitch’s games titled “Hunger Games: The Second Quarter Quell.” The film was posted on YouTube in 2011 and has been viewed over 14 million times.

In the fan film, Maysilee, portrayed by Stefania Barr, had straight blond hair with bangs and a small braid on one side. In a promotional video featuring both actresses, Grace tells Barr, “I watched the fan film, and I would watch it over and over. And every day I would show up to pre-production with the braid in my hair so I could subconsciously convince them that’s what I had to have.”

“You are what shaped so many people, including my own perception, of Maysilee Donner,” she told Barr.

The production team of “Sunrise on the Reaping” seems to listen to what the fans want. They cast Mckenna Grace and Elle Fanning based on fancasts and even held a competition to cast a fan. Thousands of fans applied by posting videos online. They selected Florida-based actor Devon Singletary, to play Haymitch’s best friend Blair. It’s evident that Suzanne Collins, director Francis Lawrence, and the cast and crew cares about their fans because of the effort they put into casting, production, and even their press tour outfits.

Fashion is very important to the story within the “The Hunger Games” fictional universe as well. Cinna designs outfits for Katniss that make strong political statements and symbolize the growing resistance against the Capitol. Katniss’ mockingjay pin is the driving motif throughout the original trilogy. In the prequel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” Lucy Gray’s colorful ruffled skirt and medieval-esque corset show her nonconformity and uniqueness as a member of the Covey. The Capitol’s maximalist fashion trends reflect their excessive wealth.

In the “Sunrise on the Reaping” book, Maysilee wears a lot of jewelry, including necklaces. Her choice in accessories symbolizes her refusal to let the Capitol mold her into something she’s not.

Similarly, Grace’s press tour outfits invoke a sense of nostalgia for a lot of longtime fans who read the original series as kids and teenagers.

“Everything is a reference lately,” Grace told Entertainment Tonight. “It’s just homage to all the people that were a part of this franchise before I was, it’s been really cool. I’m overwhelmed and thankful.”

When an actor is passionate about a role, it’s evident in their performance. Grace isn’t just passionate about Maysilee; she’s obsessed, and we are too.

“Sunrise on the Reaping” is set to be released in theaters on Nov. 20