“Sunrise on the Reaping” Set to Ignite Screens as Next Hunger Games Prequel

The Hunger Games saga returns to the big screen with “Sunrise on the Reaping,” the latest prequel that promises to dive deeper into the dystopian world of Panem. Scheduled for a November 20, 2026 release, this film adapts Suzanne Collins’ newly announced novel of the same name, bringing fans back to the brutal 50th Hunger Games—a pivotal moment in Capitol history known as the Second Quarter Quell. Read more about the film’s announcement on Business Insider.

A Return to the Arena

Sunrise on the Reaping centers around a young Haymitch Abernathy, the only living victor from District 12 aside from Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Audiences will witness the origins of his trauma, strategy, and eventual disdain for the Capitol, in a Games infamous for its cruelty. Set 24 years before The Hunger Games trilogy, the prequel expands the franchise’s dark mythology, illuminating how the Capitol manipulates history, trauma, and spectacle for control.

A New Vision for Panem

Directed by Francis Lawrence, who helmed four previous Hunger Games films, and produced by Lionsgate, the movie is expected to echo the gritty tension and socio-political critique that defined earlier entries. While no casting announcements have been made, anticipation is building as fans speculate who will portray the young Haymitch and how the Quarter Quell twist—twice as many tributes—will be portrayed cinematically.

From Page to Screen

Suzanne Collins’ announcement of the novel’s release on March 18, 2025, set off waves of excitement. With Collins again focusing on “propaganda and the power of narrative,” the story is set to reflect both the horrors of war and the Capitol’s psychological warfare. The upcoming adaptation is expected to honor these themes while delivering the franchise’s signature blend of survival, rebellion, and raw emotion.