The sunrise on the reaping trailer has finally arrived, offering a dramatic introduction to the next chapter of the Hunger Games universe. Lionsgate unveiled the first teaser, and even in its brief form, it sets a gripping tone for the story that explores the early life of one of the franchise’s most enigmatic characters — Haymitch Abernathy.
Sunrise on the Reaping: launch of a darker origin story
This new film rewinds the timeline more than two decades before the original saga. Joseph Zada steps into the role of young Haymitch, long before he becomes the mentor known to fans from the earlier adaptations. The story begins at dawn on the day of the 50th Hunger Games — the infamous Second Quarter Quell — and the tension rises from the very first moments.
How Sunrise on the Reaping reframes the Hunger Games world
The movie revisits Panem at a time of escalating brutality. Instead of simply retelling familiar events, sunrise on the reaping shifts the focus to Haymitch’s early choices, battles, and moral fractures. His journey, once only hinted at in the books, now unfolds on screen in full detail.
The prequel expands the emotional and political backdrop of the franchise, showing how the Games of that era shaped the people who would later become central to the rebellion.
A major cast powering the new Hunger Games era
Alongside Zada, the cast includes Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, and Billy Porter.
Ralph Fiennes appears as President Coriolanus Snow — taking on the role once played by Donald Sutherland, who first portrayed Snow in 2012 and continued through the remaining original films.
The new film bridges generations of actors, linking earlier portrayals of Snow and Haymitch with this new origin thread.
Honoring the past while expanding the legacy
The release also arrives shortly after the passing of Donald Sutherland in June 2024 at age 88. His interpretation of Snow helped define the cinematic tone of Panem, and the new film subtly acknowledges that legacy while forging a new narrative path.
When Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters
Directed by Francis Lawrence, sunrise on the reaping is scheduled to premiere on November 20, 2026. With its intense opening, expanded lore, and deeper look into Haymitch’s survival story, the prequel is set to become one of the most anticipated releases of its year.
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