Lionsgate has surprised fans with the first teaser trailer, teaser poster, and official first-look images for THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING, arriving one year ahead of the film’s 2026 theatrical release. The highly anticipated prequel returns audiences to Panem with an all-new story set decades before Katniss Everdeen’s revolution.
The film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ latest novel will hit theaters November 20, 2026.
A Return to Panem — 24 Years Before the Original Trilogy
SUNRISE ON THE REAPING follows a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) long before his role as Katniss and Peeta’s mentor. The story begins on the morning of the reaping for the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell — a brutal and defining event in Haymitch’s life.
The film takes viewers deeper into the political machinery of Panem and explores how the Games evolve into one of the Capitol’s most horrifying instruments of control.
First Look at the Cast & Characters
The star-studded cast for SUNRISE ON THE REAPING includes:
- Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy
- Jesse Plemons
- Ralph Fiennes
- Glenn Close
- Kieran Culkin
- Elle Fanning
- Mckenna Grace
- Maya Hawke
- Whitney Peak
- Kelvin Harrison Jr.
The first-look images showcase the early world-building, new character designs, and the darker tone of this chapter in Hunger Games history.
Record-Breaking Novel, Billion-Dollar Franchise
Collins’ novel sold 1.5 million copies in its first week across the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
- 1.2 million copies sold in the U.S.
- Twice the first-week sales of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
- Three times the sales of Mockingjay
The Hunger Games film franchise has earned over $3.3 billion at the global box office to date.
Creative Team Behind the Film
- Directed by: Francis Lawrence
- Screenplay by: Billy Ray
- Based on the novel by: Suzanne Collins
- Produced by: Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Francis Lawrence
- Executive Producer: Cameron MacConomy
Lawrence, who directed Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1 & 2, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, returns to helm the new installment.
Official Synopsis
THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING revisits the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, beginning on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. As Haymitch enters the arena, he uncovers dark truths about the Capitol and the legacy of the Games — revelations that will shape his future and that of Panem.
Follow The Hunger Games Online
- Facebook: @thehungergamesmovie
- Instagram: @thehungergames
- X (Twitter): @thehungergames
- TikTok: @hungergamesofficial
ONLY IN THEATERS — NOVEMBER 20, 2026
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The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping — First Look Images Released
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