The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Upcoming film by Francis Lawrence
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The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is an upcoming American dystopian action film directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Billy Ray. Based on the 2025 novel Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, it serves as both a sequel to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) and a prequel to The Hunger Games (2012), and will be the sixth installment in The Hunger Games film series. It stars an ensemble cast that includes Joseph Zada, Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Mckenna Grace, Whitney Peak, Maya Hawke, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Ralph Fiennes, and Glenn Close.
- Nina Jacobson
- Brad Simpson
- Francis Lawrence
| The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping | |
|---|---|
Teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Francis Lawrence |
| Screenplay by | Billy Ray |
| Based on | |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jo Willems |
| Edited by | Mark Yoshikawa |
| Music by | James Newton Howard |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled to be released in the United States on November 20, 2026.
Premise
Taking place 24 years before the first film, a young Haymitch Abernathy is selected to compete in the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, with the quells held to mark each 25th anniversary of The Capitol's war victory over the Districts, which adds a twist to the annual Hunger Games rules. For the 50th Hunger Games, each district of Panem must send twice the number of tributes to the Capitol, who will fight to the death in said Hunger Games.[1]
Cast
Tributes
- Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, a tribute from District 12 who is born on the same day as the Reaping. He is the future mentor to the main series' protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. He was played by Woody Harrelson in the original films.
- Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, a tribute from District 12 and owner of the Mockingjay pin
- Grace also plays Merrilee Donner, Maysilee's twin sister
- Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, a tribute from District 12 and an oddsmaker
- Molly McCann as Louella McCoy, a tribute from District 12[2]
- Iona Bell as Lou Lou, Louella's Capitol-assigned lookalike
- Percy Daggs IV as Ampert Latier, a tribute from District 3 and Beetee's son
- Jhaleil Swaby as Panache Barker, a tribute from District 1
- Laura Marcus as Silka Sharp, a tribute from District 1
- Sky Frances as Maritte, a tribute from District 4
- Rada Rae as Wellie, a tribute from District 6
- Tatyana Muzondo as Ringina, a tribute from District 7
- Alina Reid as Kerna, a tribute from District 9
- Salimou Thiam as Clayton, a tribute from District 9
- John Doeble as Buck, a tribute from District 10
- Kaine Buffonge as Hull, a tribute from District 11
Capitol Residents
- Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, a young cameraman for the Hunger Games. He was played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the previous films.
- Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, a Capitol stylist. She was played by Elizabeth Banks in the original films.
- Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, the host of the Hunger Games. He was played by Stanley Tucci in the original films.
- Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow, the tyrannical president of Panem who once served as a mentor to Lucy Gray Baird, victor of the 10th Hunger Games, from District 12. He was played by Donald Sutherland in the original films, and by Tom Blyth in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
- Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, a Capitol chaperone for the District 12 tributes
- Billy Porter as Magno Stift, a Capitol stylist for the District 12 tributes
- Iris Apatow as Proserpina Trinket, a Capitol prep team member and Effie's younger sister
- Edvin Ryding as Vitus, a Capitol prep team member
- Sandra Förster as Hersilia, a trainer for the Hunger Games
- Jax Guerrero as Tibby, a transportation attendant for the District 12 tributes
Mentors
- Maya Hawke as Wiress, victor of the 49th Hunger Games, from District 3. She was played by Amanda Plummer in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, victor of the 34th Hunger Games, from District 3, whose son Ampert is competing in the games. He was played by Jeffrey Wright in the previous films.
- Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan, victor of the 11th Hunger Games, from District 4. She was played by Lynn Cohen in Catching Fire.
District 12 Residents
- Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch's girlfriend and descendant of the Covey Caravan of which Lucy Gray Baird was once a part
- Kara Tointon as Willamae Abernathy, Haymitch's mother
- Smylie Bradwell as Sid Abernathy, Haymitch's younger brother
- Scot Greenan as Burdock Everdeen, Haymitch's best friend, Asterid's boyfriend, and the future father of Katniss Everdeen. He is also Lenore Dove's distant relative. He was played by Phillip Troy Linger in the original films.
- Grace Ackary as Asterid March, Maysilee's best friend, Burdock's girlfriend, and the future mother of Katniss Everdeen. She was played by Paula Malcomson in the original films.
- Jeffrey Hallman as Clerk Carmine, Lenore Dove's uncle
- Serafin Mishiev as Woodbine Chance, a District 12 citizen reaped for the 50th Hunger Games; however his deadly defiance makes Haymitch take his place.
- Melody Chikakane Brown as Hattie Meeney
- Jefferson White as Mr. McCoy, Louella's father
- Devon Singletary as Blair, Haymitch's friend
Additionally, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson reprise their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark respectively.[3]
Production
Development
In June 2024, with the announcement that Suzanne Collins would be publishing her next installment in The Hunger Games series on March 18, 2025, titled The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Lionsgate Films greenlit a feature film adaptation of the book, with Francis Lawrence in talks to return to direct.[4]
Casting
Casting directors Debra Zane and Dylan Jury began casting the film in December 2024; a casting call was put out for young Haymitch, Lenore Dove, and Maysilee, and Zane and Jury began making lists for the younger adult versions of legacy characters.[5]
From April to June 2025, much of the ensemble was cast, including Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr.,[6] Maya Hawke,[7] Lili Taylor,[8] Ben Wang,[9] Ralph Fiennes,[10] Molly McCann, Iona Bell,[2] Elle Fanning,[11] Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Billy Porter, Jhaleil Swaby, Laura Marcus, Percy Daggs IV, and Rada Rae.[12][13][14][15][16][17] More casting announcements were made in July, including Kara Tointon, Jefferson White, Iris Apatow, and Edvin Ryding.[18][19][20][21] In October, Devon Singletary joined the cast after winning an open audition competition.[22][23]
In December 2025, it was reported that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson would be reprising their roles of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in the film.[3] The following month when asked if she would be collaborating with director Francis Lawrence on the film, Jennifer Lawrence said: "Maybe we already have[...]Oh, yeah. It is out on the internet, isn't it?"[24]
Filming
Principal photography began in late July in Spain, and was teased by official Hunger Games social media accounts on August 6, 2025.[25] Shooting locations included Somiedo and Teverga.[26] By November, Fanning and Close had concluded filming their scenes.[27][28] Principal photography officially wrapped in Berlin on November 28.[29]
Marketing
On November 20, 2025, exactly a year from theatrical release, an official teaser for the film was released before filming had even ended.[30] The first trailer was released on April 13, 2026.[31]
