McKenna Grace Channels Katniss’ Fiery ‘Catching Fire’ Chariot Look at ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Berlin Premiere
Mckenna Grace has made the press tour for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ into a running tribute to the franchise, picking outfits that nod to the films that came before. The actress plays District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner in the prequel, and fans have been watching each red carpet to spot the next reference.
Page Six called her wardrobe a “scavenger hunt” of ‘Hunger Games’ nods, and the list has kept growing. Grace has paid homage to heroes, tributes, and even the arena itself as the film’s release date approaches.
The latest reference came at the film’s Berlin premiere. Film Updates shared side-by-side images showing that Grace’s look echoed Katniss Everdeen’s famous chariot dress from ‘Catching Fire’.
In the photos, Grace signs autographs for fans in a sparkling red and black gown with a racerback neckline, and the colors and silhouette recall the flaming dress Jennifer Lawrence wore as Katniss. Fans quickly caught the reference.
Mckenna Grace references Katniss’ chariot dress from ‘Catching Fire’ at the Berlin premiere of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ https://t.co/G5Zed8EDVG
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 2, 2026
Berlin is the latest stop in a long line of themed looks. On October 6, at the Musée Rodin opening of the ‘Elegance Is Authority’ costume exhibition in Paris, Grace wore a white strapless Monique Lhuillier gown with a floating crystal structure that recalled Katniss’ wedding dress from ‘Catching Fire’.
Mckenna Grace, Whitney Peak, Joseph Zada and Francis Lawrence at #TheHungerGames: Sunrise on the Reaping Berlin premiere. https://t.co/1GNrQ47R7s
— mckenna grace files ⋆.𐙚 ̊ (@mckennafiles) November 2, 2026
At the Academy Museum Gala on October 17, she wore a red Mônot halter dress that called back to Lawrence’s red Calvin Klein gown from the Oscars. On the “Today” show, her aqua Betsey Johnson minidress and twin butterfly hair clips honored Amandla Stenberg’s Rue from the first film.
Grace also wore an archival Gucci gown with green, flamingo pink and magenta ruffles that nodded to Rachel Zegler’s Lucy Gray Baird from ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’. At the London premiere on October 28, her beaded Almée Couture gown depicted a lush meadow that evoked the Quarter Quell arena, and she joked to Entertainment Tonight that the only thing missing was a cornucopia.
MCKENNA GRACE, YOU’RE UNREAL. https://t.co/x0Gaoieg9y
— mckenna grace files ⋆.𐙚 ̊ (@mckennafiles) November 2, 2026
The actress has been open about what’s behind the tributes. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Grace said everything she wears lately is a reference, describing it as an homage to everyone who was part of the franchise before her.
mckenna grace at the hunger games: sunrise on the reaping uk screening. https://t.co/PlqVvuMpSq
— 21 (@21metgala) October 29, 2026
She has also called herself a huge ‘Hunger Games’ fan and said Lawrence is her favorite actress, which is why she wanted to honor her. According to CinemaBlend, Grace said fashion had felt difficult for her because she often felt insecure about her body growing up, so having fun with these looks has been a healing experience.
Grace told E! News that each ‘Hunger Games’ film has its own distinct fashion era. She explained that the new film’s mood boards drew on Stevie Nicks and the ’60s and ’70s, while the prequel about Snow leaned on the 1950s.
New trailer for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.’ https://t.co/kjrAmRwx58
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 16, 2026
The film is set 24 years before the original ‘The Hunger Games’ and follows a young Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada, after he is chosen for the 50th Hunger Games. It is a Quarter Quell, so each district sends twice the usual number of tributes.
Francis Lawrence directs from a screenplay by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie, based on Suzanne Collins’ novel. The cast includes Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, and Ralph Fiennes as President Snow.
Glenn Close, Maya Hawke, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Billy Porter also appear. The prequel opens in theaters on November 20, including in IMAX. With the release just weeks away, fans are already guessing which iconic moment Grace will reference next.
Which of Mckenna Grace’s Hunger Games tribute looks is your favorite so far?
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