The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping backdrop
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping poster
Science Fiction Action Adventure
Welcome to the Second Quarter Quell.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026)

Runtime 150 min
Release date 18/11/2026
Country United States of America, Germany
Production
Lionsgate Lionsgate
Color Force Color Force
about:blank about:blank
Studio Babelsberg Studio Babelsberg
Overview
Return to the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Directors & Screenwriters
Francis Lawrence profile photo
Francis Lawrence
Director
Billy Ray profile photo
Billy Ray
Screenwriter
Michael Lesslie profile photo
Michael Lesslie
Screenwriter
Cast
Joseph Zada profile photo
Joseph Zada
as Haymitch Abernathy
Ralph Fiennes profile photo
Ralph Fiennes
as President Coriolanus Snow
Jesse Plemons profile photo
Jesse Plemons
as Plutarch Heavensbee
Mckenna Grace profile photo
Mckenna Grace
as Maysilee Donner
/ Merrilee Donner
Whitney Peak profile photo
Whitney Peak
as Lenore Dove Baird
All trailers
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Official Trailer 2

Video: YouTube
Duration: 02:25
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Three more months. Twice the tributes. One arena.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:16
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Official Trailer

Video: YouTube
Duration: 02:25
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Official Teaser

Video: YouTube
Duration: 02:12
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Blair.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 01:19
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Burdock. Asterid. Hattie Meeney. Mr. McCoy.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Caesar Flickerman.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Effie Trinket.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Lou Lou.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Louella McCoy.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

President Snow.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Wyatt Callow.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Wiress.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Beetee Latier.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Plutarch Heavensbee.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Maysilee Donner.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Haymitch Abernathy.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Lenore Dove Baird.

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:21
Science Fiction Action Adventure

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Reveal

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:55
Did You Know?
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping backdrop

Mckenna Grace lights up the press tour with runway‑ready tributes for the upcoming Hunger Games prequel

Mckenna Grace is stealing the spotlight as she promotes The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the highly anticipated 2026 prequel. The 20‑year‑old stars as Maysilee Donner—the first tribute to wear the iconic Mockingjay pin—while also out‑fashioning the Capitol itself with a series of eye‑catching looks. On Instagram, Grace shared four distinct outfits that blend youthful flair with a hint of Panem’s extravagance. She started with a flirty sheer blue mini‑dress paired with floral socks and pointy heels, followed by a baby‑blue ruffled dress accented by a cute black bow at the front. The third ensemble was a white mini‑dress featuring bows down the middle and delicate lace detailing, and she capped the lineup with a sleek black dress with a front zipper teamed with knee‑high tights. Rather than fully immersing herself in “method dressing,” Grace appears to showcase her own fresh, feminine style while promoting the sci‑fi saga. Grace’s posts also gave fans a glimpse of the stacked cast gathering for the press tour. She reunited with Joseph Zada (Haymitch Abernathy), Ben Wang (the other male District 12 tribute), Whitney Peak (Haymitch’s girlfriend Lenore Dove), and Iris Apatow (Effie’s younger sister Proserpina Trinket). The film also features Elle Fanning as a young Effie, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, Billy Porter as Magno Stift, and Maya Hawke as Wiress. Together they will retell the Second Quarter Quell, a Games that doubled the usual number of districts. Set to hit theaters on November 20, Sunrise on the Reaping promises both high‑stakes drama and a fashion showcase, with Grace hinting that more striking looks are on the way as the release date approaches.
cinemablend.com
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A fresh trailer reveals the birth of Haymitch and a neon‑bright twist on the Hunger Games.

The newest trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping drops a tantalizing glimpse of the 50th Annual Hunger Games, the very contest that first introduced District 12’s legendary tribute Haymitch Abernathy, now portrayed by Joseph Zada. This prequel promises to chart the early days of the Games that would later shape Katniss Everdeen’s world. Director Francis Lawrence returns to steer the spectacle, and the casting choices feel inspired. Ralph Fiennes steps into the icy shoes of President Snow with his trademark smug menace, while Elle Fanning brings a bright‑eyed spin to Effie Trinket. Kieran Culkin’s Caesar Flickerman may even eclipse Stanley Tucci’s version, and fresh faces McKenna Grace, Molly McCann and Ben Wang fill the ranks of District 12 tributes Maysilee Donner, Louella McCoy and Wyatt Callow. Visually, the trailer hints at a tone that sits somewhere between the unsettling folk‑horror of Midsommar and the vivid, comic‑book flair of Thor: Ragnarok—an unexpected burst of color in an otherwise grim saga. Expect heart‑pounding chase sequences as Zada’s Haymitch fights for survival, alongside the promised “original movie vibes” that could signal a return to form for the franchise. The film lands in theaters on November 20, 2026.
gamesradar.com
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping backdrop

Haymitch’s blood‑soaked debut: the new trailer reveals a 48‑tribute Quarter Quell showdown

Lionsgate’s freshly dropped trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping thrusts a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) into the chaotic heart of the Second Quarter Quell – the 50th Games where the arena swells to 48 tributes, double the usual roster. The gritty footage pits Haymitch against a host of fresh faces, including District 12’s fierce Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace) and District 3’s ambitious Ampert Latier (Percy Daggs IV), the son of past victor Beetee. Beyond the arena’s carnage, the teaser hints at the larger rebellion brewing in Panem. A defiant Haymitch is shown confronting Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus Snow, setting the stage for the uprising that will later engulf Katniss Everdeen. While the trailer omits the original stars, the film is confirmed to bring back Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson as Katniss and Peeta, who will hear Haymitch’s full story during the Quell. Woody Harrelson’s return as the older Haymitch remains unconfirmed but is widely expected. The sequel follows the 2023 prequel The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which raked in a staggering $347.6 billion worldwide on a $100 million budget. Sunrise on the Reaping steps up with a $185 million budget and aims to outpace its predecessor when it hits theaters on November 20, 2026. Fans can expect a grander scope, higher stakes, and the early sparks of the revolution that reshaped the Hunger Games saga.
screenrant.com
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The Hunger Games prequel earns its first PG‑13 warning for blood and teen drinking

The upcoming prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, lands with a PG‑13 rating that carries new cautions for "bloody images" and "teen drinking"—the first time the franchise has been flagged for either. The Motion Picture Association noted the graphic violence and alcohol use as the reasons, and Lionsgate has set the theatrical debut for November 20, 2026. The film adapts Suzanne Collins’s 2025 novel set during the Second Quarter Quell, a Games that doubled the tribute count and thrust a teenage Haymitch Abernathy into the arena. That backstory explains the harsher content: the novel’s graphic depictions of the Games and Haymitch’s early descent into alcoholism translate on screen into explicit bloodshed and scenes of teen drinking, directly tying the new rating warnings to his tragic arc. Directed by Francis Lawrence—who helmed three previous installments—the screenplay by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie places Sunrise on the Reaping between the early rise of President Snow and the rebellion era that birthed Katniss Everdeen. The official trailer and poster have already hinted at a darker, more visceral experience, and fans will be watching closely to see whether the film lives up to its reputation as the most violent Hunger Games entry yet.
headtopics.com
Noah Kahan Unveils Lead Single, ‘Draw You Out,’ Written For ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’ Album
Image via deadline.com,

Noah Kahan’s new single will set the tone for the next Hunger Games chapter

Lionsgate has tapped indie‑folk star Noah Kahan to pen the lead track for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the franchise’s newest installment slated for a November 20 theatrical debut. His song “Draw You Out” drops on October 2, joining a legacy of marquee musicians—Taylor Swift, Lorde, Olivia Rodrigo—who have previously supplied the series’ signature anthems. The upcoming film adapts Suzanne Collins’s March 2025 novel and shifts the spotlight to a teenage Haymitch Abernathy, played by newcomer Joseph Zada, as he navigates the brutal 50th Quarter Quell. Whitney Peak returns as Lenore Dove, the love interest who will shape Haymitch’s early years, while a stacked cast that includes Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes and Kieran Culkin rounds out the ensemble. Kahan, fresh from a high‑profile Emmys performance and a Netflix documentary debut, says the story’s mix of tragedy and hope resonated with him. He’s also contributing to a soundtrack that revisits fan‑favorite numbers like “Deep in the Meadow” and “The Old Therebefore,” weaving new material into the series’ musical tapestry. Fans can expect Kahan’s introspective folk sensibility to echo the film’s themes of purpose, grief and perseverance, offering a fresh sonic entry point into a world that’s already buzzing with speculation about the next generation of tributes.
deadline.com
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping backdrop

Noah Kahan’s haunting new single channels the tragic love story at the heart of Sunrise on the Reaping

Singer‑songwriter Noah Kahan is stepping into Panem’s world with “Draw You Out,” the lead track from The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping soundtrack. Co‑written and co‑produced with Grammy‑winning Aaron Dessner, the song drops on October 2, ahead of the full 29‑track album slated for November 13—just a week before the film’s theatrical debut. Kahan says the lyrics were born from the “purpose, grief and perseverance” embodied by Haymitch Abernathy and his late girlfriend Lenore Dove Baird. The verses echo the weight of carrying a loved one’s memory, a theme that feels especially resonant given Lenore’s role in Haymitch’s backstory during the 50th Hunger Games. Fans can already hear lines about “drawing you out” and “saying your name,” underscoring the song’s intimate tribute. The artist hinted at the collaboration long before the official announcement, sharing cryptic snippets on social media—including the phrase “Ladybug, fly away home,” a line that appears in the upcoming film. At the 2026 Emmy Awards he teased a secret movie music project, only to confirm his involvement weeks later. With Joseph Zada as Haymitch and Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, the soundtrack promises to deepen the emotional landscape of Suzanne Collins’ expanding saga.
justjared.com
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping backdrop

Discover the dark origins of the arena’s most infamous mentor in the new Hunger Games prequel.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping slams into theaters on November 20, 2026, pulling back the curtain on a teenage Haymitch Abernathy. Set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen’s rebellion, the film follows 16‑year‑old Haymitch (played by newcomer Joseph Zada) as he’s thrust into the 50th Hunger Games – a Quarter Quell where two tributes from each district are forced to battle, a move orchestrated by President Snow (Ralph Fiennes) and Plutarch Heavensbee (Jesse Plemons). Director Francis Lawrence, who helmed every Hunger Games installment after the first, promises a faithful yet unflinching adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel. While the story’s brutal moments—like a character holding a child’s severed head—won’t survive a PG‑13 rating, Lawrence says the film will retain the novel’s raw edge, delivering the darkness that shaped Haymitch’s jaded persona. The ensemble blends fresh faces with familiar names: Elle Fanning steps into Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin becomes Caesar Flickerman, and Maya Hawke appears as Wiress, while Glenn Close, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Iris Apatow round out the cast. Rumors suggest a surprise epilogue that could reunite Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson with their Katniss and Peeta counterparts, offering a nostalgic bridge to the original saga. Fans have already devoured multiple trailers, catching glimpses of a vividly colored arena and the looming menace of Snow’s new regime. With its high‑stakes premise and a cast that bridges generations, Sunrise on the Reaping promises to deepen the mythology of Panem while setting the stage for the rebellion we all know is coming.
gamesradar.com
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The new trailer pulls back the curtain on Haymitch’s darkest Quell, revealing shocking deaths and a daring arena sabotage.

The Sunrise on the Reaping trailer proves the upcoming film will be brutally faithful to Suzanne Collins’ novel, cramming a wealth of detail into a few minutes. Fans can spot Silka’s axe throw, the fluttering blue butterflies, and even the tiny squirrel mutts that later become a gruesome weapon. The most gut‑wrenching moments, however, come from the tribute parade and the arena itself. A fleeting glimpse of District 12’s chariot careening out of control hints at Louella McCoy’s fatal crash. In the book, the runaway horses fling Haymitch and the 13‑year‑old Louella onto the pavement, where she is left bleeding from a cracked skull. The trailer only hints at the overturning chariot, but the implication is clear: her death precedes the Games. The sabotage sequence is another highlight. After Beetee’s warning, Haymitch is seen slipping a flower‑shaped pendant onto a metal beam in an underground tunnel, only to be confronted by armed Peacekeepers. A spark ignites the flower, echoing the novel’s explosive sunflower token hidden in District 9’s water tank. The flood‑filled control area and Haymitch clinging to a ladder reinforce the peril of his plan, even as the film appears to add a new Peacekeeper showdown. Finally, the trailer doesn’t shy away from Lou Lou’s poisoning. Haymitch rushes to her side as she collapses amid a field of colorful flowers, pollen coating her face and blood streaming from her nose. He screams, “Enough!” and shouts, “She’s not your toy!”—a line that mirrors his desperate plea in the book. The scene cuts to Plutarch’s cold stare, underscoring the brutal stakes of this early‑era Hunger Games.
screenrant.com