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 film directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie. 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 instalment in The Hunger Games film series. It stars an ensemble cast that includes Joseph Zada, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
| The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping | |
|---|---|
Teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Francis Lawrence |
| Screenplay by | |
| Adaptation by | Suzanne Collins |
| 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 |
| Budget | $170–200 million[1] |
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, 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy is selected to compete in the 50th Hunger Games. Every 25th edition of the games, known as a Quarter Quell, adds a special 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 a televised spectacle.[2]
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 previous films.
- Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, a tribute from District 12 and owner of the Mockingjay pin
- Grace also portrays 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 who is reaped alongside Haymitch.[3]
- Iona Bell as Lou Lou, Louella's Capitol-assigned lookalike heavily implied to be from District 11.
- Percy Daggs IV as Ampert Latier, a tribute from District 3 and son of former victor Beetee Latier.
- 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. He was played by Konstantin Taffet in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
- 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 are expected to reprise their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark respectively.[4]
Production
Development
Adaptation rights for the film were acquired by Lionsgate simultaneously with Suzanne Collins's announcement of the novel in June 2024. Principal photography took place between July and November 2025 across locations in Spain and Germany.[5]
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.[5]
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.[6]
From April to June 2025, much of the ensemble was cast, including Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr.,[7] Maya Hawke,[8] Lili Taylor,[9] Ben Wang,[10] Ralph Fiennes,[11] Molly McCann, Iona Bell,[3] Elle Fanning,[12] Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Billy Porter, Jhaleil Swaby, Laura Marcus, Percy Daggs IV, and Rada Rae.[13][14][15][16][17][18] More casting announcements were made in July, including Kara Tointon, Jefferson White, Iris Apatow, and Edvin Ryding.[19][20][21][22] In October, Devon Singletary joined the cast after winning an open audition competition.[23][24]
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.[4] 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?"[25]
Filming
Principal photography began in late July in Spain, and was teased by official Hunger Games social media accounts on August 6, 2025.[26] Shooting locations included Somiedo and Teverga.[27] By November, Fanning and Close had concluded filming their scenes.[28][29] Principal photography officially wrapped in Berlin on November 28.[30]
Music
In April 2026, James Newton Howard was announced to return to compose the film in his sixth time with the franchise, marking his eighth collaboration with Lawrence.[31] A remix version of the Who's 1973 song titled "Love, Reign o'er Me" (Boomerang remix) was featured from the film's first trailer, released on May 30, 2026.[32] The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album), the film's soundtrack album, is scheduled for release on November 13, 2026, through MCA. "Draw You Out" by Noah Kahan serves as its lead single, released on October 2, 2026. The album is produced by Dave Cobb and contains a total of 29 tracks by yet-to-be-announced artists, including "Deep in the Meadow" featured in the first film and "The Old Therebefore" from the prequel film.[33][34]
Marketing
On November 20, 2025, exactly a year from theatrical release, an official teaser for the film was released before filming had even ended.[35] On April 6, 2026, a statue depicting a metal snake and songbird surrounded by flowers was erected in Millennium park in Chicago. This was followed by another 31 statues across 30 different countries. The statues were accompanied by cards with quotes from the previous films and books printed on them.[36] The first trailer was released on April 13, 2026.[37] A featurette titled "Meet Haymitch" was released on July 4, 2026, featuring new clips from the film, behind the scenes footage, and interviews with the cast and crew.[38] On August 21, 2026, the website capitol.tv, which had been previously used to promote earlier entries in the film series was reactivated. In universe promotional material was revealed, along with a 2 minute video narrated by Ralph Fiennes as Coriolanus Snow. On September 7, 2026, three new videos were released on the website, featuring more in universe propaganda starring Capitol citizens. One of the three videos featured Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle.[39] The second official trailer was released on September 16, 2026.[40]
