The next addition to the Hunger Games franchise is on the way, and we're under a year away from heading back into the dystopian world of Panem in The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping.
If you're new here or don't keep close watch over The Hunger Games franchise, we've got you covered. The successful franchise has expanded its lore into the world beyond just the original story. While four successful films were adapted from The Hunger Games trilogy, there was another spinoff of sorts released in 2023 titled The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
That film was successful, so it was only a matter of time before another story within the world of The Hunger Games would be told. That movie is soon approaching, so here's everything we know about The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping, including the release date, the cast (including some very exciting news about Jennifer Lawrence), and more.
What Is The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Release Date?
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be released in theaters on November 20, 2026. The 2026 movie schedule is filling up fast, and it's chock full of fun releases, and this is certainly one of the hottest anticipated additions to the list.
The First Teaser Trailer Has Been Released
The first teaser trailer for Sunrise on the Reaping dropped in November 2025, as production was finishing up. Check it out!
It's hard not to get excited after seeing this. Let's go!
What Is The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping About?
The movie is based on the 2025 novel, Sunrise on the Reaping, by Suzanne Collins, who, of course, wrote the original trilogy. The book follows the 50th annual Hunger Games, 24 years before the Hunger Games in the first book and movie, where Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) began her revolution against The Capitol, and in honor of it, twice as many tributes are picked to play.
We know a little about the 50th edition of the games, because we know the winner of them, Haymitch Abernathy, who was played by Woody Harrelson in the original movies. He is one of only two winners to ever come from District 12 before Katniss and Peeta both won the 74th edition in the first Hunger Games.
So, the movie is set 24 years before the events of the original Hunger Games trilogy and begins on the morning of the Second Quarter Quell, when we find out there will be twice the usual number of tributes, four from each district, instead of two.
The first three Hunger Games movies followed the story of Katniss Everdeen, a tribute to the 74th Hunger Games, who broke the system and ended up starting a revolution against the Capitol. The prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, followed the origin story of the main villain of The Hunger Games series, Coriolanus Snow.
Now, we're going to get Haymitch's story, which is a great way to continue this franchise. Haymitch has always been a character that people loved in the first trilogy, so it would make sense that this would be the next story to tell.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Cast
The cast of Sunrise on the Reaping is, in a word, fantastic. It's a mix of up-and-comers and established veteran stars. Many of the characters we know from the first movies will be in this one, albeit younger versions of themselves, including President Snow (Donald Sutherland in the original series; Tom Blythe in Songbirds & Snakes), Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks originally), Plutarch Heavensbee, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman first, and Caesar Flickerman, who was played by Stanley Tucci in the originals. Here's everyone we know so far:
Joseph Zada As Haymitch Abernathy
The hero of the movie, Haymitch Abernathy, is being played by Joseph Zada. Zada has worked in television, but this promises to be a big breakout for the young actor.
Mckenna Grace As Maysilee Donner
Maysilee Donner, played by McKenna Grace, is Haymitch's fellow District 12 tribute and his ally in the games. Grace may just be 19 years old, but she's already got a long resume that goes back more than a decade with appearances in movies like I, Tonya, Gifted, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and its sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, as well as 2025's Five Nights at Freddy's 2.
Ralph Fiennes As President Coriolanus Snow
One of the most important characters in the franchise is President Coriolanus Snow, and to reflect that, once again, they cast a heavyweight in the role, none other than the great Ralph Fiennes. I can't wait to find out where he takes the menacing villain.
Jesse Plemons As Plutarch Heavensbee
I think it's safe to say that most will agree that Jesse Plemons is the perfect actor to cast for a young Plutarch Heavensbee, following in the footsteps of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Not only does he have the acting chops on the same level as Hoffman, but he bears quite a resemblance to the late actor who played the character originally.
Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle
Oh boy, does this one look fun! Legend Glenn Close is playing Drusilla Sickle, the Capitol chaperone, like Effie Trinket was in the first movies. I have no idea how over the top this performance will be, but I can't wait to find out. Her appearance to lead the trailer is magical.
Elle Fanning As Effie Trinket
Speaking of Effie Trinket, she will be played by Elle Fanning in the Sunrise on the Reaping.
There are quite a few more actors who we know, as well, including:
- Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman
- Billy Porter as Magno Stift
- Iris Apatow as Proserpina Trinket
- Maya Hawke as Wiress
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier
- Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan
- Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow
- Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird
- Jefferson White as Mr. McCoy
- Edvin Ryding as Vitus
We also know from a report in December 2025 in The Hollywood Reporter that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will be reprising their roles as Katniss and Peeta. How that will, I have no idea, but I'm here for it!
Francis Lawrence Is The Director
Director Francis Lawrence is once again going to be at the helm of this film. This will be the fourth time he will be in the director's chair for a Hunger Games movie.
Lawrence is responsible for not only the prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, but also the second film, Catching Fire, and both parts of Mockingjay in the original Hunger Games movies. The only one that he did not direct was the first film, which came from director Gary Ross.
Lawrence has also worked on other films outside of The Hunger Games movies, including the Will Smith-led I Am Legend and the romantic drama Water for Elephants, as well as Constantine. His most recent film, The Long Walk, is one of CinemaBlend's favorite movies of 2025.
The film reported wrapped principal photography in November 2025, so it's off to the editing room for the production team, and into the waiting room for fans of the series.
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