Lionsgate teases “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping”
The world of Panem is once again roaring back to life, and fans of The Hunger Games franchise are already buzzing with anticipation. Ever since the announcement that Suzanne Collins’ second prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, would be making its way to the big screen under the direction of franchise veteran Francis Lawrence excitement has been steadily building.
Now, with the release of the first official trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, that anticipation has exploded into full-blown hype. The trailer offers a gripping first glimpse at a story steeped in trauma, survival, and the brutal spectacle of the Games, ushering audiences into an era even darker than the one that shaped Katniss Everdeen.
Set 24 years before Katniss defied the Capitol during the 74th Hunger Games, and four decades after Lucy Gray Baird’s haunting performance in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Sunrise on the Reaping takes viewers into the 50th Hunger Games better known to fans as the Second Quarter Quell. This was no ordinary Games. As established in the original novels, the Quarter Quells are designed as special, even more terrifying editions of the already horrific tournament. For the 50th Games, the Capitol doubled the pool of tributes, forcing each district to sacrifice two boys and two girls instead of the usual pair. The cruelty of this twist made it one of the deadliest Games in Panem’s history, with only one victor emerging: Haymitch Abernathy.
The film will follow Haymitch’s journey as a young man, long before he became the jaded, alcoholic mentor audiences first met in The Hunger Games. In the novels and previous films, Haymitch’s past is referenced only in fragments: a brilliance dulled by trauma, a sense of humor used as armor, a mistrust of the Capitol forged in blood. But Sunrise on the Reaping finally promises to show, in detail, the events that shaped him into the complicated, fiercely loyal mentor who helped guide Katniss and Peeta to victory.
Watch the Trailer here - https://youtu.be/MPjxijuBuSo
The trailer hints at exactly the sort of story fans have been waiting for. There are sweeping shots of District 12 before its destruction, scenes of the Capitol glimmering in all its grotesque opulence, and glimpses of a younger Haymitch; determined, sharp, and far more hopeful than the man he will one day become.
Francis Lawrence, who directed Catching Fire, Mockingjay – Part 1, Mockingjay – Part 2, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, returns to expand the saga with his signature blend of world-building, intensity, and character-driven storytelling. His familiarity with Panem ensures continuity in style and tone, and his past adaptations have been praised for capturing the deeper political and psychological themes of Collins’ work. With Sunrise on the Reaping, Lawrence has yet another chance to explore the roots of rebellion, the brutality of dictatorship, and the personal toll of survival.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set to hit theaters on 20 November 2026, and if the early trailer is any indication, it promises to be one of the most emotionally intense and visually striking entries in the franchise. Fans can expect a story rich with heartache, strategy, violence, and the sparks of rebellion—everything that has made The Hunger Games a global phenomenon. As we await the film’s release, one thing is certain: Panem’s past has never felt so alive.
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