Teaser Release “Sunrise on the Reaping”
Today saw the release of the eagerly anticipated teaser for “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.” The movie, which takes place 24 years before Katniss Everdeen, depicts Haymitch Abernathy’s ascent to prominence. On November 20, 2026, the movie is scheduled for release.
With the release of the first teaser trailer for “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” the next significant film in Suzanne Collins’ popular series, Lionsgate rekindled interest in the dystopian world of Panem.
The eagerly awaited prequel, which is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026, will take viewers back to a darker and earlier era of Panem’s history—24 years prior to the events of the first Hunger Games movie. Sunrise on the Reaping
The teaser introduced viewers to Joseph Zada, who portrayed a young Haymitch Abernathy, and was released a full year before the movie’s planned premiere.
The narrative took place on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games’ cruel reaping, which is often referred to as the Second Quarter Quell in franchise history. Haymitch, who was first portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the main movie series, had his trauma and fate dictated by the Games.
In the video, Haymitch was portrayed as a tough, streetwise young guy getting ready for his part in the most infamous televised death battle in Panem. Long before he became the cynical mentor who led Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark decades later, he was seen entering the arena in the teaser.
The historical significance of the Second Quarter Quell, which dramatically increased the tribute count from 24 to 48, was echoed by Zada’s Abernathy’s statement, “I think these games are gonna be different.”
Following the ongoing popularity of previous movies and the 2023 prequel, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” which chronicled the ascent of a young Coriolanus Snow, the new trailer debuted at a time when there was a resurgence of interest in the property.
Since Collins’ initial publication of “The Hunger Games” in 2008, the series has developed into one of the most popular young adult entertainment properties worldwide.
With almost $3.4 billion in global box office receipts from the first five films in the series, which starred Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Panem became an enduring literary and cinematic universe.
Lionsgate had been bringing the property to the stage in addition to the movie. As part of the studio’s continuous efforts to transform the dystopian series into a multi-platform entertainment behemoth, a large-scale theatrical performance of “The Hunger Games” debuted in London.
The new movie is directed by Francis Lawrence, who has helmed a number of the franchise’s installments. Billy Ray wrote the script and adapted the plot from Collins’ novel “Sunrise on the Reaping.”
In addition to Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Whitney Peak, Billy Porter, Jesse Plemons, Mckenna Grace, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, and Ben Wang in prominent roles, the picture brought together a star-studded cast that included Ralph Fiennes as the autocratic leader of Panem.
By combining established Hollywood talent with up-and-coming young performers, the casting demonstrated Lionsgate’s ongoing dedication to expanding the franchise’s narrative scope.
Returning to the realm of Districts, Capitol politics, and lethal arena combat, the narrative reexamined a Panem that had not yet been formed by Katniss Everdeen’s uprising but rather by a generation compelled to fight and perish in order to survive under the brutal authority of the Capitol.
With its increased tribute requirement meant as a warning to the people and a show of force by the government, the Second Quarter Quell stands in franchise canon as one of the most severe and politically charged Games. Longtime Colour Force franchise leaders Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson produced the project, with Cameron Mac Conomy acting as executive producer.
Sunrise on the Reaping already seemed to be positioning itself as one of the most ambitious entries in The Hunger Games saga—a return to a legacy defined by spectacle, tragedy, and the systems that shaped rebellion long before Katniss Everdeen took the stage—after the teaser sparked intense debate in fan communities and on social media. “Sunrise on the Reaping”