There are movie franchises that come and go, and then there’s The Hunger Games, which somehow always finds a way to pull everyone right back into Panem the second new footage drops. That world still has a grip on people, and not just because of the arena itself. It’s the cruelty, the politics, the heartbreak, and the way every new chapter comes pre-loaded with some fresh emotional damage. Sunrise on the Reaping was already one of the most anticipated franchise movies on the calendar. Now the new trailer has made the wait feel even longer.
Lionsgate has released a new trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, giving fans their latest look at the prequel ahead of its November 20, 2026, theatrical release. The film is directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Billy Ray, adapting Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel of the same name. The story is set 24 years before Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen entered the arena and follows the 50th Hunger Games, better known as the Second Quarter Quell. And one thing that strikes us here is how good this film looks with the Games being shot on location, the colours are vibrant and the casting looks utterly impeccable.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping stars Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch Abernathy, with Ralph Fiennes playing President Coriolanus Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket (in an utterly inspired fan casting come to life), Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan, Whitney Peakas Lenore Dove Baird, Molly McCann as Louella McCoy, Iona Bell as Lou Lou, and Lili Taylor returning as Mags. Lawrence will reprise her role as Katniss Everdeen in the film too, having confirmed her part earlier this year. Alongside Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson is also set to reprise his role as Peeta in the epilogue.
What Can We Expect From ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’?
Mckenna Grace spoke to Collider’s Perri Nemiroff last year, singling out Zada’s performance as a standout, which is a big statement to make given how emotional the films have proven to be from the days of Jennifer Lawrence.
“Joseph Zada. Just his performance, everybody’s going to be, like, freaking sobbing in the theaters. It’s rough. Because I’m supposed to be the mean, most stuck-up girl in town, but I’m watching him do his thing and, like, oof, it’s very gut-punchy. And Glenn Close as Drusilla, all of us have been losing our minds. It’s been crazy. And also, Grace [Ackary], who’s playing the younger version of Asterid, Katniss’ mom, is really fantastic. But to me, it’s just crazy watching her on screen because she looks so much like her, so it’s so trippy. God, our entire cast is so good. Everybody’s so good.”
Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters on November 20, 2026.
- Release Date
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November 20, 2026
- Director
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Francis Lawrence
- Writers
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Billy Ray, Michael Lesslie, Suzanne Collins
