Lionsgate released the teaser trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping on Thursday, giving fans their first glimpse at young Haymitch Abernathy’s origin story exactly one year before the film hits theaters. Joseph Zada plays a younger version of Haymitch in this prequel, which takes place twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games.
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What Makes This Hunger Games Different?
The Second Quarter Quell doubles the number of child tributes from 24 to 48, creating the deadliest arena in Panem’s history. The teaser features intense countdown sequences and glimpses of the brutal competition that forged the cynical mentor fans know from the original trilogy.
The end of the teaser trailer includes the voice of Woody Harrelson saying “I think these games are gonna be different”, connecting past and present with an emotional through-line.
Film Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release Date | November 20, 2026 (exactly one year away) |
| Lead Actor | Joseph Zada as young Haymitch Abernathy |
| Director | Francis Lawrence (returning from previous films) |
| Screenwriter | Billy Ray (who adapted the first novel) |
| Number of Tributes | 48 (double the usual 24) |
| Based On | Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel |
| Star-Studded Cast | Elle Fanning, Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Ralph Fiennes |
A Cast That Demands Attention
Jesse Plemons plays young Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning portrays Effie Trinket, and Kieran Culkin takes on Caesar Flickerman. The younger roles include Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s girlfriend and descendant of Lucy Gray Baird from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, one of the other District 12 tributes.
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Why Fans Should Be Excited
The creative team behind Sunrise on the Reaping reads like a reunion of Hunger Games veterans, with Francis Lawrence returning at the helm after directing Catching Fire, both parts of Mockingjay, and the recent prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. This continuity ensures the film maintains the visual style and emotional depth fans expect.
The franchise has generated over $3.4 billion at the global box office, and this installment explores one of the series’ most beloved characters during his darkest hour. After one of the properly chosen tributes tries to escape and is shot on the spot, Haymitch is grabbed by Capitol officials and told he’ll take the boy’s place, setting up a survival story unlike any other.
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Learn more about the film at Lionsgate Movies.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping be released?
The film arrives in theaters on November 20, 2026, exactly one year from when Lionsgate dropped the first teaser trailer. The movie will also be available in IMAX format for the ultimate viewing experience.
How is Sunrise on the Reaping connected to the other Hunger Games films?
This prequel takes place 24 years before the original Hunger Games trilogy and follows young Haymitch Abernathy during the 50th Hunger Games (Second Quarter Quell). The film also serves as a sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, as Whitney Peak’s character Lenore Dove Baird is a descendant of Lucy Gray Baird. This creates a bridge connecting all three timelines in Panem’s history.
