Lionsgate has surprised fans of The Hunger Games franchise with the release of a brand-new teaser trailer, poster and first-look images for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The highly anticipated film is set to hit cinemas on 20 November 2026, marking a major return to the world of Panem.
Fans can also catch all updates via Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok.
A Return to Panem: Young Haymitch Takes Centre Stage
Based on Suzanne Collins’ 2024 bestseller, Sunrise on the Reaping revisits Panem 24 years before the original trilogy, diving into the life of a young Haymitch Abernathy — played by rising star Joseph Zada.
The story opens on the morning of the Second Quarter Quell, the infamous Fiftieth Hunger Games, offering fans their first detailed look at the brutal event that shaped Haymitch into the mentor we meet in the earlier films.
For readers wanting to catch up on the franchise’s literary roots, the book is available via the official Scholastic page.
Record-Breaking Book Sales Set the Stage
Collins’ prequel made an explosive impact upon release, selling 1.5 million copies in its first week across the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
In the U.S. alone, sales reached 1.2 million copies — doubling the first-week numbers of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and tripling those of Mockingjay.
With numbers like these, excitement for the film adaptation is running high.
A Blockbuster Team Behind the Cameras
Long-time franchise filmmaker Francis Lawrence returns to direct, working from a screenplay by Billy Ray. The film is produced by Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, and Lawrence himself — the trio behind the franchise’s global success.
The Hunger Games series has already earned over $3.3 billion worldwide, and with this new chapter, Lionsgate looks set to ignite the box office once again.
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Star-Studded Cast
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping features an impressive ensemble:
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Joseph Zada
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Jesse Plemons
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Ralph Fiennes
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Glenn Close
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Kieran Culkin
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Elle Fanning
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Mckenna Grace
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Maya Hawke
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Whitney Peak
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Kelvin Harrison Jr.
With such a cast, fans are expecting one of the most compelling entries in the series to date.
The film arrives exclusively in cinemas on 20 November 2026.
Set your reminders now — Panem is calling once again.
