Sunrise on the Reaping hit bookshelves in March 2025, but fans won’t have to wait long to see the latest Hunger Games prequel get the movie treatment.
Lionsgate ordered the movie The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping at the same time author Suzanne Collins announced the book about Haymitch Abernathy was on the way. Producer Nina Jacobson explained that this allowed the studio to start developing the film early.
“We’re much further along than we would ever have been otherwise, without having this jump, because we went to work right away,” she told Variety in March. “None of it has been announced yet, but we have a great draft that we’re still doing work on. We’ve established our locations. We’re very far along for a book that’s only going to come out tomorrow!”
Based on a screenplay by Billy Ray, director Francis Lawrence told the CinemaCon audience in April 2025 that Sunset on the Reaping “is really a return to form for the kinds of films that we love from this book series.”
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be the second prequel in the franchise after 2023’s A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Initially starting in 2012, the first four films adapted Collins’ original trilogy and introduced viewers to Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), a previous victor of the Games who helped guide Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) through the deadly competition.
Scroll down for everything we know so far about movie adaptation of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping:
Does ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Have a Release Date?
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set to hit theaters November 20, 2026.
Who Is in the ‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Cast?
“It’s an interesting challenge,” Jacobson said of casting Haymitch in March. “Because of this early manuscript not being published, we haven’t even been able to read actors for fear that sides could leak! We’ve been holding our breath for a long time, but I think that what we’re looking for in that role is, you don’t want somebody who’s impersonating Woody, but you want somebody who very credibly feels like they could be a young version of this character, before the trauma and grief and rage that the fallout of the Games create.”
In April 2025, Lionsgate confirmed Joseph Zada was cast as lead Haymitch Abernathy, while Whitney Peak will play his love interest Lenore Dove Baird. One day later, Mckenna Grace was confirmed to play Maysilee Donner.
Zada celebrated the news by sharing a news article via his Instagram Story, tagging Peak with a red heart emoji. Peak reposted Zada’s story with her own set of red heart and hug emojis.
That same month, Lionsgate revealed that Jesse Plemons signed on to play Plutarch Heavensbee. The actor follows in the footsteps of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who portrayed the Head Gamemaker-slash-secret rebellion leader in the latter three original Hunger Games films — 2013’s Catching Fire, 2014’s Mockingjay – Part 1 and 2015’s Mockingjay – Part 2. The Mockingjay films marked his final roles before his death at age 46 in 2014.
What Is ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ About?
The story follows Haymitch as a 16-year-old who is forced to enter The Hunger Games as a District 12 tribute in the 50th annual Hunger Games. The annual event forces each of Panem’s districts to put two children into a fight to the death that is broadcast nationwide to remind citizens of the government’s power.
When Will Filming Start?
Cameras are expected to roll in summer 2025.
Will Anyone from Past ‘Hunger Games’ Movies Appear?
Lawrence, who has directed every Hunger Games film since Catching Fire, is returning for his fifth trip to the arena. As for actors from the original films, there is certainly a possibility for a few cameos, given certain scenes from the novel.
Harrelson was already referenced in promotional materials. In the motion poster released at CinemaCon in March 2025, a line of Harrelson’s dialogue from the original movie plays. “I think these games are gonna be different,” he says as a mockingjay and snake look poised to attack each other — but are revealed to share a body.
Forty-eight tributes. One victor.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – in theaters November 20, 2026. pic.twitter.com/pGKnux44L0
— The Hunger Games (@TheHungerGames) April 1, 2025
