Kelvin Harrison Jr., who voiced Taka, aka Scar, in Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, has joined the ever-growing cast of Lionsgate’s latest installment of the Hunger Games franchise, the adaptation of the latest Suzanne Collins best-seller, Sunrise of the Reaping.

Glenn Close is also said to be circling a role in the feature, although sources say it’s unclear whether a deal can be struck on that front.

Reaping stars Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, with Whitney Peak playing Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. The prequel story is focused on fan-favorite Haymitch, who in the original Hunger Games book trilogy (and movie quadrology) acted as a mentor to heroine Katniss Everdeen. (Woody Harrelson played Haymitch in the original Hunger Games films.)

Mckenna Grace and Jesse Plemons are also on the roll call of the production that has Francis Lawrence in the director’s chair.

Harrison has been cast as Beetee,...