Each year, the members of the CGA come together to identify a group of up to 10 extraordinary actors we believe have the potential to break out on the world stage; The CGA Rising Stars.
On this episode, Casting Guild member Lou Mitchell interviews Joseph Zada.

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Joseph Zada is set to lead the next installment of THE HUNGER GAMES franchise reprising Woody Harrelson's iconic role of "Haymitch Abernathy". SUNRISE OF THE REAPING, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, tells Haymitch's origin story and is set to be released by Lionsgate on November 20th, 2026. He will star alongside Glenn Close, Ralph Feinnes, Kieran Culkin, Jesse Plemmons and Elle Fanning. He will also soon be seen in the role of "Cal Trask" in Netflix’s limited series EAST OF EDEN, opposite Florence Pugh, Mike Faist and Christopher Abbott. Adapted by Zoe Kazan from John Steinbeck’s novel, the series is directed by Garth Davis and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre and will release in 2026.

Most recently, he can be seen starring as “Johnny Sinclair” in Julie Plec’s Amazon Prime Video series WE WERE LIARS, based on the best-selling novel by E. Lockhart. The series quickly rose to #1 on Prime Video’s Top 10 TV list. Zada can also be seen leading the STAN Original series INVISIBLE BOYS, based on best-selling novel by Holden Sheppard, currently streaming in Australia.