‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Feeds Fans with Early Teaser
One year from the film’s 2026 release, Lionsgate has released a surprise teaser trailer, teaser poster and first look images for 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.’
In June 2024, with the announcement that Suzanne Collins would be publishing her next installment in The Hunger Games series on March 18, 2025, titled The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and before too long, Lionsgate Films greenlit a feature film adaption of the book. The film, which represents the second prequel in the insanely popular franchise, revisits the world of Panem and follows young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
This special Hunger Games requires double the number of tributes, and Haymitch is reaped on his birthday after a fatal incident during the ceremony, forcing him from his life and love to fight in the deadly arena. The book explores themes of political manipulation and societal control as Haymitch navigates the brutal games and will also deal with the trauma of being a victor. Clearly from the teaser, the film looks to do the same.
Francis Lawrence will direct from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray. This chapter in the story will show us a young Haymitch Abernathy, this time played by Zada. Woody Harrelson previously played the role and made the character a fan-favorite. Rounding out the all-star cast is Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, the host of the Hunger Games, Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, Billy Porter as Magno Stift, Maya Hawke as Wiress, a victor from District 3, Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan, a victor from District 4 and the great Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow, the tyrannical president of Panem.
In five films, the Hunger Games franchise has taken in over $3.3 billion at the box office. Sunrise on the Reaping sold 1.5 million copies in its first week across the globe, and the 1.2 million copies sold in the U.S. are twice the first week sales of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and three times the first week sales of Mockingjay.