Everything we know about the new Hunger Games movie 'Sunrise on the Reaping'

Fans of The Hunger Games universe, get ready, Panem is calling once again.

Following the box office success of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Lionsgate is moving full speed ahead with its next adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s prequel novel, Sunrise on the Reaping.

And this time, the story dives deep into the haunted past of one of the series' most beloved characters: Haymitch Abernathy.

Unlike Ballad, which featured only a few characters connected to the original saga, this film brings several familiar faces back into the spotlight before they ever met Katniss Everdeen.

Haymitch’s Story Takes Center Stage

Sunrise on the Reaping gives fans the long-awaited backstory of District 12’s iconic Victor, Haymitch Abernathy.

Known for his abrasive charm and heavy drinking in the original series, Haymitch is portrayed in this prequel as a young tribute surviving one of the most brutal Hunger Games ever held.

In Suzanne Collins's novel, we learn why Haymitch is so deeply scarred. 

“The year he went into the arena, the Games demanded not two but four tributes from each district,” which, of course, “means he had to watch twice as many people die.”

The trauma of that experience, already horrifying under normal circumstances, was doubled during the 50th Games—also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

Timeline & Context

This chapter in the Hunger Games timeline takes place 24 years before the events of the original series.

The Second Quarter Quell, which asked each district to send four tributes instead of two, was the Capitol’s twisted way of punishing the districts once again—and the setting in which Haymitch earns his victory.

This story not only expands the lore of the franchise but adds emotional depth to a character fans already love, giving new context to his role as a mentor to Katniss and Peeta decades later.

The Cast: Familiar Names, New Faces

According to People, rising star Joseph Zada has been cast as the young Haymitch Abernathy, stepping into the role made famous by Woody Harrelson.

Joining him is Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl reboot) as Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird.

Mckenna Grace will take on the role of Maysilee Donner—another tribute who fans may recognize as Katniss's mother's close friend.

Jesse Plemons has been cast as a young Plutarch Heavensbee.

The late Philip Seymour Hoffman portrayed Plutarch in the original films, and Plemons, who once played Hoffman’s son in The Master, brings an eerie and fitting continuity to the role.

The film will be directed by Francis Lawrence, the creative force behind every Hunger Games film except the first.

According to Variety, Lawrence is returning to ensure the prequel maintains the signature tone and visual style that made the original films iconic.

Mark Your Calendars

Lionsgate has confirmed that The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will hit theaters on November 20, 2026.

With a beloved character at its heart, a star-studded cast, and a veteran director at the helm, this is shaping up to be a must-watch return to the Capitol and the deadly arenas of Panem.