‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ opens in theaters on November 20, 2026.
Preview:
- ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is in development.
- ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ director Francis Lawrence is in talks to oversee it.
- It’s set 24 years before Katniss enters the arena.
Some things are predictable. The changing of the seasons. The tides of the sea. Elon Musk making a stupid decision. Add to that list the brief span of time between ‘Hunger Games’ author Suzanne Collins announcing a new book and Lionsgate jumping at the chance to turn it into a movie.
In this case, Collins has revealed that she’s written a second prequel novel, this one titled ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’, and it has been followed it what seems like seconds by Lionsgate confirming that a movie adaptation is in the works. The book will be out on March 18th, 2025.
What’s the story of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?
Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
While the previous prequel, ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’, took place 64 years before the events of the original trilogy, ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is set 24 years before that trio of Jennifer Lawrence films in the world of Panem, commencing on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Those games are an important event in the canon as the victor was Haymitch Abernathy, the only winner from District 12 before Lawrence’ Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta Mellark’s tie win. Haymitch continues on to become a mentor, a character in the original movies played by Woody Harrelson.
Who will appear in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’
(L to R) Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Lawrence in ‘The Hunger Games’. Photo: Lionsgate.
No casting has been announced yet for the movie, but there’s a chance Harrelson could be called upon to provide bookend narration the way Donald Sutherland was utilized in ‘Songbirds and Snakes’.
But we do know that Francis Lawrence, who has directed four of the ‘Hunger Games’ movies to date, is in talks to handle this latest outing.
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’: Collins and the Filmmakers Talk
(Left) ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ director Francis Lawrence. (Right) ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ producer Nina Jacobson.
Here’s Suzanne Collins’ statement on the new book and movie:
“With ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’, I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few… The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day. From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026.”
And here’s Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson:
“Suzanne Collins is a master storyteller and our creative north star. We couldn’t be more fortunate than to be guided and trusted by a collaborator whose talent and imagination are so consistently brilliant. We know ‘Hunger Games’ fans worldwide will be spellbound by where Suzanne has focused this next extraordinary story. The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later. Like fans around the globe, we are eagerly anticipating this exciting return to Panem.”
Related Article: 10 Things We Learned At ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Press Conference
When will ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ be in theaters?
Lionsgate already has a release date in place for this one: the studio wants the new movie in theaters on November 20th, 2026. If he does make a deal, Lawrence will have his work cut out for him…
Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.