Sam Claflin Gives His Seal of Approval to McKenna Grace’s Finnick Odair Tribute
McKenna Grace is having the time of her life on the press tour for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’, and her latest tribute to the franchise just got a reaction from the original Finnick Odair, Sam Claflin. The actress plays Maysilee Donner in the prequel, a District 12 tribute who becomes an unexpected ally to young Haymitch Abernathy in the arena.
Grace has made no secret of being a longtime fan of the franchise. She has admitted to making ‘Hunger Games’ fancams on TikTok, and during this press tour she has worn looks inspired by Katniss Everdeen’s wedding gown, a Rue-inspired blue dress and the black feathered interview dress from ‘Catching Fire’.
Her latest tribute went a step further. In a new 32-second TikTok, Grace recreated the famous sugar cube scene between Katniss and Finnick from ‘Catching Fire’, playing both characters herself. For the Finnick side, she went all in with a wig, accessories, and even abs drawn on with makeup.
When Grace shared the video on Instagram, Claflin himself showed up in the comments. The actor left a playful nod to Katniss’ famous “Girl on Fire” nickname, finished with a fire emoji, as a clear sign that he approved of her take on his character.
Sam Claflin left a comment under Mckenna Grace’s latest post on Instagram. https://t.co/afp0A5el5q
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 9, 2026
Grace couldn’t hide her excitement. Replying to Claflin, she admitted that she’d tried to figure out how to play it cool but simply couldn’t, which is exactly the kind of reaction fans would have if Finnick himself commented on their post.
The exchange quickly spread online, with fans loving the moment between 2 generations of the franchise. It’s also a nice full-circle moment, since the sugar cube scene remains one of the most-shared ‘Catching Fire’ clips on social media.
@mckennagrace and for my next press tour reference I’m finnick odairs sugar cube
♬ original sound – Lionsgate UK
The moment in which Claflin’s Finnick offers Katniss a sugar cube has stayed popular for years. Official accounts like Peacock and Prime Video have shared it on TikTok, and fans still debate what the exchange really means.
Witness the beginning of the revolution. #TheHungerGames: Sunrise on the Reaping – in theaters & IMAX November 20. https://t.co/fKCrWXIk3T
— The Hunger Games (@TheHungerGames) September 16, 2026
Some see it as pure flirtation, while others read it as Finnick testing whether Katniss’s feelings for Peeta were real or just part of the story the Capitol was watching. Grace’s version leans into the fun of it, and her viewers clearly enjoyed it, with many pointing out that she even nailed Finnick’s abs. Claflin has always had a soft spot for the character. Reflecting on Finnick’s fate a decade after ‘Catching Fire’, he told Variety, “I think Finnick deserved better.”
The TikTok came just days after another nod to Katniss. At the Berlin premiere of ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ at the Zoo Palast on November 2, Grace wore a custom Cong Tri gown, styled by Molly Dickson, inspired by the flaming “Girl on Fire” chariot dress from ‘Catching Fire’.
New ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ broadcast just aired on CNN during U.S. Election Night coverage. 🎥: KevOutKevin https://t.co/CX57wLgOlt
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 4, 2026
That look drew plenty of attention online, and the Claflin comment seems to play directly off it. Grace also appears on the film’s companion album, which features 28 other artists across 29 tracks.
Directed by Francis Lawrence, ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ tells the story of Haymitch’s Games during the Second Quarter Quell. Joseph Zada stars as young Haymitch, with a cast that includes Whitney Peak, Elle Fanning, Jesse Plemons, Kieran Culkin, Maya Hawke, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Ralph Fiennes and Glenn Close.
New posters for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.’ https://t.co/5ufu9J0eJ1
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 16, 2026
In the film, Maysilee is the owner of the Mockingjay pin, making Grace’s character an important link to the original story. The prequel opens in theaters on November 20, and if her press tour is anything to go by, Grace is ready to carry the franchise’s legacy proudly.
What do you think of McKenna Grace recreating the iconic Finnick Odair sugar cube scene?
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