Sunrise on the Reaping release date & latest updates about the Hunger Games movie

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Instead of five films being all we got, luckily for us, Suzanne Collins has come to our aid by publishing another Hunger Games book, which will now be adapted into a movie – great news for fans of “Sunrise on the Reaping”!

Two years have passed since “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” was published, while more than a decade has gone by since the Hunger Games trilogy first appeared on screens. Yet, in 2025, the excitement surrounding The Hunger Games has resurfaced once more – all thanks to Suzanne Collins.

In a new book titled “Sunrise on the Reaping,” she details Haymitch Abernathy’s triumph in the 50th Hunger Games and how it played a crucial role in Katniss Everdeen’s eventual overthrow of the Capitol some twenty years later. Notably, Haymitch subsequently joined the rebellion.

Great news for those who have previously read it! The novel “Sunrise on the Reaping” is set to be adapted into a movie, joining its book counterparts. Keep up-to-date with the release date and the latest casting announcements as we bring you all the updates to get ready for this exciting adaptation.

Sunrise on the Reaping release date

Sunrise on the Reaping is currently expected to be released on November 20, 2026.

In July 2025, production for the movie, which will be helmed by Francis Lawrence in terms of direction, and penned by Billy Ray, will kick off.

The book debuted on March 18, 2025, shifting more than 1.5 million units globally during its initial launch week.

Where does it sit in the Hunger Games timeline?

The upcoming film is a sequel that comes before the original Hunger Games trilogy and is placed right after “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

If you wanted to watch them all in their canonical timeline, your binge would look like this:

  • The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • Sunrise on the Reaping
  • The Hunger Games
  • The Hunger Games – Catching Fire
  • The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part 1
  • The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part 2

Obviously, the same goes for the books, except Mockingjay originally wasn’t split into two parts.

The real-life chronology instead looks like this:

  • The Hunger Games (2012)
  • The Hunger Games – Catching Fire (2013)
  • The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)
  • The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part 2 (2015)
  • The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
  • Sunrise on the Reaping (2026)

Confirmed Sunrise on the Reaping cast

Joseph Zada takes the lead portraying a younger Haymitch, while notable actors like Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, and Kieran Culkin join the cast as well.

The confirmed cast currently looks as follows:

  • Haymitch Abernathy – Joseph Zada
  • Effie Trinket – Elle Fanning
  • President Snow – Ralph Fiennes
  • Caesar Flickerman – Kieran Culkin
  • Leonore Dove Baird – Whitney Peak
  • Maysilee Donner – McKenna Grace
  • Plutarch Heavensbee – Jesse Plemons
  • Beetee – Kelvin Harrison Jr
  • Wiress – Maya Hawke
  • Mags – Lily Taylor
  • Louella McCoy – Molly McCann
  • Wyatt Callow – Ben Wang
  • Lou Lou – Iona Bell

Previously, some of these characters have graced the big screen. Elizabeth Banks previously portrayed Effie, Donald Sutherland and Tom Blyth as Snow, Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee in previous films. In this new adaptation, the characters from Sunrise on the Reaping will carry on from where the original cast left off.

Above all, it was Woody Harrelson who portrayed Haymitch in the initial trilogy. By the time Katniss volunteered as tribute, Haymitch served as her guide, hiding his involvement in the rebellion. As of now, there’s speculation about whether Harrelson will reappear for a flash-forward scene in Sunrise at the Reaping.

If you’re familiar with “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” you might recognize Beetee, Wiress, and Mags on this list. Jeffrey Wright portrayed Beetee, Amanda Plummer played Wiress, and Lynn Cohen took the role of Mags. Unfortunately, we know how their stories conclude, but there’s not much information about what led them to return to the arena, unless you’ve read the latest book, in which case you’d have more insight into their backgrounds.

Apart from Leonore Dove Baird and Maysilee Donner, all the other names are unfamiliar faces at Sunrise on the Reaping.

Sunrise on the Reaping plot

In Sunrise on the Reaping, we delve into an era that precedes The Hunger Games by 24 years. Here, a youthful Haymitch Abernathy competes in a significant event called the 50th Hunger Games, which is also recognized as the Second Quarter Quell.

According to the book’s account, “As the sun rises on the 50th Hunger Games, a sense of dread hangs over the districts of Panem. In this special case known as the Quarter Quell, twice the number of tributes will be chosen. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is doing his best to avoid dwelling on his prospects. His only wish is to survive the day and be with the girl he cherishes. However, when Haymitch’s name is announced, it feels like all his hopes shatter.

Originally hailed from his family and a loved one, forcibly taken to the Capitol alongside three fellow tributes from District 12 – a close friend like a sister, a reckless gambler, and a haughty local girl. As the Games commence, Haymitch realizes he’s been deliberately set up to lose. Yet, there lies within him an unyielding desire to battle it out…and make that struggle echo far beyond the lethal arena.

Readers can anticipate finding numerous references from The Hunger Games series and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, along with resolutions to longstanding mysteries, such as the identities of Katniss’ parents.

Is it connected to the other stories?

To summarize, it is indeed necessary for you to have prior familiarity with all the other books and films. Watching Sunrise at the Reaping serves as a link connecting these stories, making it more enjoyable if you are well-versed in what came before.

In our upcoming prequel, the story unfolds forty years subsequent to the occurrences in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, promising a wealth of significant connections to events that have transpired before.

Although we have a fairly confident prediction about the content of the book, we are still unsure how closely the film will follow its plot.

To learn more, discover which streaming platforms carry The Hunger Games films, uncover the story behind Haymitch’s victory in The Hunger Games, and understand why popular opinions might be misguided regarding the least favorable Hunger Games movies.

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2025-05-28 15:19