Everything we know so far about ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’

The Hunger Games franchise keeps expanding. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the sixth installment in the Hunger Games franchise overall and the second prequel, is in development from Lionsgate, with a 2026 premiere slated. 

Sunrise on the Reaping is based on a dystopian young adult novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, published in March 2025. It became the fastest-selling title in the Hunger Games series so far, selling over 1.5 million copies in its first week. The film adaptation was already in the works, but with the publication of the novel, the pace of movie development has picked up, and news about it is coming out at a steady clip. 

Here’s what we know so far about The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. 

What is Sunrise on the Reaping about? 

Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games. It tells the story of the events of the 50th Hunger Games, an annual battle royale among young representatives from the districts of Panem, a post-apocalyptic nation governed by an authoritarian regime. This particular round is a Quarter Quell, which happens every 25 years and requires each district to send four players, known as tributes, instead of the usual two.

The hero of the story is 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, who, many years later, serves as the mentor to Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Haymitch is one of four tributes from District 12, the most impoverished and downtrodden district. During the game, he leads a rebellion against Gamemakers, who profit off the spectacle of suffering. It’s an origin story for how Haymitch became the jaded, bitter, and isolated man he was when Katniss first met him, and explains the spark that was dormant inside of him that Katniss’ rebellion reignited. 

It follows the events of the first Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which tells the origin story of President Coriolanus Snow, 40 years prior.

Who’s in the cast? 

Three major roles have been cast so far. 

• Joseph Zada (the upcoming East of Eden limited series) will play Haymitch Abernathy. Woody Harrelson played Haymitch in the original Hunger Games quartet. According to producer Nina Jacobson, the role of young Haymitch was a challenging one to cast. “Nobody can be Woody Harrelson but Woody Harrelson,” she told Variety. “But you have to find that mischief that he has in him inherently and try to understand, if you turn back time from the man you meet at the beginning of The Hunger Games, who he was before all of that, and why he became that.”
• McKenna Grace (The Handmaid’s Tale, the recent Ghostbusters movies) will play Maysilee Donner, one of the three other tributes from District 12.
• Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl) will play Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s girlfriend. She is a descendant of Lucy Gray Baird, who Rachel Zegler played in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. 

“The Hunger Games franchise has long been a launching pad for remarkable young actors, and Jo and Whitney carry that legacy forward with incredible heart, depth, and fire,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-President Erin Westerman in a statement announcing Zada and Peak’s casting. “After auditioning hundreds of gifted performers from around the world, these two stood out — not just for their talent, but for the emotional truth they brought to these iconic roles. Haymitch has always been a fan favorite, and his origin story is one of the most anticipated in the franchise. His relationship with Lenore Dove is deeply woven into the emotional history of Panem. We can’t wait for fans to experience the story that shaped one of the most compelling characters in the series.”

“Deb Zane and Dylan Jury oversaw an exhaustive (and exhausting!) search to find a young actor with the skill and imagination to embody young Haymitch,” added Jacobson. “Jo prepared like crazy and stole our hearts. Then Whitney took our breath away as Lenore Dove. When we put the two of them together, it was one of those magical casting moments when you know your search has led you home.”

Who’s behind it? 

Like every Hunger Games movie since Catching Fire, Sunrise on the Reaping is being directed by Francis Lawrence. The screenplay is being written by Billy Ray, who previously co-wrote the script for the first installment of The Hunger Games movie. Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson of Color Force produce it. 

When will it be released? 

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is slated to open in theaters on Nov. 20, 2026.