Lionsgate is diving back into Panem with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping — and in a move fans didn’t see coming, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are returning to the franchise that made them global icons. The new film, based on Suzanne Collins’ latest novel, is set decades before the original movies but still finds a way to bring Katniss and Peeta back into the arena’s shadow.
A New Hunger Games Era Begins
Lionsgate has officially dropped the first teaser trailer for
“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” confirming the film will hit theaters and IMAX on
November 20, 2026.
The movie is set
24 years before the events of the original
The Hunger Games, beginning on the
morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games — the infamous
Second Quarter Quell.
In the teaser, viewers hear District 12’s reaping announcer declare:
“Twice the number of tributes. Twice the glory… It’s time… for the Second Quarter Quell. Let the 50th Hunger Games begin!” That line echoes one of the darkest twists in Panem’s history: each district must send
four tributes instead of two, doubling the bloodshed.
The Story: Haymitch Takes Center Stage
Unlike the original films that followed Katniss,
“Sunrise on the Reaping” centers on a teenage Haymitch Abernathy during his own Games.
Key story points based on Collins’ novel and the film’s setup:
- The film follows
16-year-old Haymitch as he’s reaped for the 50th Hunger Games.
- This Second Quarter Quell becomes a turning point in Panem’s history — and in Haymitch’s life — explaining the trauma and cynicism we see in his older self.
- The story explores how he survived the arena, his relationship with the Capitol, and how he became the haunted mentor to Katniss and Peeta years later.
In the original movies, Haymitch was played by Woody Harrelson. In this prequel,
Joseph Zada steps into the role of younger Haymitch.
Who’s Back Behind The Camera?
Lionsgate is sticking with the creative team that turned
The Hunger Games into a global phenomenon.
-
Director: Francis Lawrence returns to direct
Sunrise on the Reaping. He previously helmed
Catching Fire, both
Mockingjay films, and
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
- The film continues Lionsgate’s long-term bet on the
Hunger Games universe, expanding on Collins’ books while keeping close to her tone and world-building.
That continuity is a big deal for fans — it suggests the new movie will feel stylistically aligned with the later films in the franchise rather than a total reboot.
The Cast: Familiar Names, New Faces
The cast list is where things get really interesting.
Returning Legends
According to the Motion Picture Association’s official site,
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are expected to return as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in the new prequel.
That’s shocking on paper: the 50th Hunger Games happens long before Katniss and Peeta are even born. So how will they appear?
- Collins’ book includes an
epilogue where
an older Haymitch is seen with Katniss and Peeta.
- The film is expected to
use that epilogue as a framing device or closing sequence, allowing Lawrence and Hutcherson to return without breaking the timeline.
The exact nature of their appearance is being kept tightly under wraps, but their return alone is enough to reignite global fan interest.
A Stacked Ensemble
The prequel also features a mix of new stars and recast legacy roles:
-
Joseph Zada as young
Haymitch Abernathy-
Mahershala Ali as President Snow (taking over a role previously played by Donald Sutherland)
-
Kiernan Culkin as
Caesar Flickerman, the flamboyant TV host once played by Stanley Tucci
-
Glenn Close as
Drusilla Sickle-
Lili Taylor as
Mags Flanagan-
Ben Wang as
Wyatt Callow-
Kelvin Harrison Jr. as
Beetee Latier, a younger version of the character originally portrayed by Jeffrey Wright
-
Billy Porter as
Magno Stift-
Laura Marcus as
Silka SharpThat lineup signals Lionsgate’s intent: this isn’t a small side story; it’s a full-scale tentpole designed to extend the franchise for a new generation.
What the Teaser Reveals
The official teaser, released by Lionsgate’s YouTube channel, gives a first look at the tone and scope of the film:
- The footage opens in
District 12 on reaping day, immediately anchoring us in familiar territory.
- Drusilla Sickle presides over the ceremony, announcing the
“glorious reaping” and emphasizing the doubled tribute count.
- We hear Haymitch saying,
“I think these games are gonna be different,” hinting at the Quarter Quell twist and the brutality to come.
Visually, the teaser leans into the cold, oppressive aesthetic fans know from
Catching Fire and
Mockingjay, but with a slightly more stripped-down, earlier-Capitol look, matching the story’s place in the timeline.
Why This Movie Matters for the Franchise
A Deeper Look at Trauma and Power
Haymitch has always been one of the most tragic—and least explained—figures in the series.
Sunrise on the Reaping finally answers the questions that hung over his character:
- What exactly happened in his Games?
- Why does he drink, push people away, yet still care enough to fight for Katniss and Peeta?
- How did his victory shape the Capitol’s tactics and the rebellion’s future?
By going back to the Second Quarter Quell, the film has a chance to show
how the Games evolved into the spectacle we see in Katniss’ era, and how early acts of defiance quietly laid the groundwork for revolution.
Smart Fan Service, If It Lands
Bringing back Lawrence and Hutcherson is both a
creative risk and a
marketing masterstroke.
- For longtime fans, their return makes this feel like an event film, not just a side-prequel.
- For newer audiences coming off
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, it connects the growing prequel universe back to the original saga.
The key question:
Will their appearance feel organic and emotional—or forced and gimmicky? The use of the epilogue suggests Collins and the filmmakers are aiming for something reflective and character-driven rather than a simple nostalgia cameo.
The Bigger Picture: Lionsgate’s Panem Playbook
- Using strategic appearances from legacy stars to bridge generations of viewers
With a built-in global fanbase, IMAX rollout, and the return of the franchise’s most recognizable faces,
Sunrise on the Reaping is poised to be one of 2026’s biggest genre releases—if it can deliver both spectacle and emotional depth.
What To Watch For Next
As the release date approaches, expect:
- A full-length trailer revealing more arena footage and character dynamics
- Official stills of
young Haymitch,
younger Mags and Beetee, and
Mahershala Ali’s Snow- Clarification from Lionsgate on how heavily Katniss and Peeta will feature in the film’s runtime
- Early reactions from test screenings that will hint at whether this prequel hits as hard as
Catching Fire or feels more like an extended epilogue
For now, we know this:
the Games are back, Katniss and Peeta are stepping into the spotlight one more time, and Panem’s past is about to rewrite how we see its future.
Sources
1. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026) Official Teaser
2. Jennifer Lawrence & Josh Hutcherson Returning for "The Hunger ...
