Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest Hunger Games prequel, was only published a couple of months ago, but Lionsgate has had its eyes on adapting the latest Suzanne Collins novel since June 2024. Set to be released next year, we’ve collated everything you need to know about the Sunrise on the Reaping movie as an excellent cast continues to be announced and release date looks to be firming up.
What is Sunrise on the Reaping about and where does it sit within The Hunger Games world?
If you’ve been living under a rock, you might think the world of Katniss Everdeen and The Hunger Games came to an end in 2015 with the release of Mockingjay – Part 2. However, you’d be wrong, and missing out on a pretty crucial element – that they were books first!
Author Suzanne Collins has been pretty busy since we bid farewell to Katniss and Peeta, initially penning a prequel novel about villain President Snow. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was published in 2020, with a film adaptation released in 2023, starring Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler.
While many (me) may have questioned the need for a President Snow backstory, Hunger Games fans have been wanting the story of District 12 victor Haymitch Abarnathy basically since we met him in the first Hunger Games book. What happened in Haymitch’s games at the Second Quarter Quell that left him a disgruntled drunk? Aside from the whole Capitol eat the poor mentality, of course.
Sunrise on the Reaping came out in March, telling us that exact story, set 24 years before Katniss’ first foray into the games.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping takes place 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games. The film dramatises the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. This is significant as the victor in the 50th Hunger Games is Haymitch Abernathy. Following these events, Haymitch becomes the District 12 mentor to Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen, the Mockingjay who eventually brings the evil Panem Capitol to its knees.
“The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later. Like fans around the globe, we are eagerly anticipating this exciting return to Panem,” Lionsgate’s Fogelson said in a statement as he teased the next chapter in the film series.
Sunrise on the Reaping cast
With familiar characters from the original Hunger Games featuring in Sunrise on the Reaping, including Haymitch, President Snow, Plutarch Heavesnbee, Mags, Effie Trinket, and Ceasar Flickerman, it’s fair to say casting has been pretty spot-on. In fact, we might need to ask for DNA testing, because some of the actors playing younger versions of these characters could honestly be related.
Haymitch Abernathy - Joseph Zada
The star of this story, Haymitch first appeared in The Hunger Games as the only surviving victor of District 12 and was a mentor to tributes Katniss and Peeta, played by Woody Harrelson. In Sunrise on the Reaping we meet a younger Haymitch as his name is pulled during the reaping for the Second Quarter Quell (the 50th Hunger Games).
Effie Trinket - Elle Fanning
A Capitol residing, eccentrically dressed individual, Effie is the escort for District 12 tributes, and was originally played by Elizabeth Banks in the original movies. Elle Fanning plays a younger Effie in Sunrise on the Reaping, and we can’t get over the likeness.
President Snow - Ralph Fiennes
President Coriolanus Snow is the overseer of this dystopian society and is the one character to appear across the original trilogy and the two prequels. Meeting him at middle age, where Tom Blyth played his younger self and the late Donald Suntherland an older version, Ralph Fiennes takes on the role in Sunrise on the Reaping.
Caesar Flickerman - Kieran Culkin
One of the most recent castings, Caesar Flickerman is a TV host in Panem who guides its people through the goings-on of the televised Hunger Games. He interviews the tributes and commentates as the murderous games take place. Previously Stanley Tucci appeared in the role in the original trilogy, with Oscar-winning Kieran Culkin announced as the younger Ceasar Flickerman.
Leonore Dove Baird - Whitney Peak
Leonore Dove Baird is a new character to Sunrise on the Reaping, but she does have interesting ties to the rest of the franchise. Keen eyed fans will recognise her surname, with Leonore’s mother suspected to be the cousin of Lucy Gray Baird, who is one of the central characters in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and love interest to President Snow. Whitney Peak has been cast in the role. Well, Snow and Haymitch both have a thing for Baird girls, because Leonore is Haymitch’s girlfriend that he’s leaving behind in District 12.
Maysilee Donner - Mckenna Grace
Another new character, Mckenna Grace plays Maysilee Donner, the second woman tribute from District 12, with the Second Quarter Quell meaning double the tributes from each District must be supplied for the special Hunger Games.
Plutarch Heavensbee - Jesse Plemons
Again, can we get a DNA test over here please? Plutarch Heavensbee will be another familiar character in the Hunger Games franchise as the Head Gamemaker. Portrayed by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman who had a posthumous appearance in the final Mockingjay films, Jesse Plemons will portray a younger version of Plutarch Heavensbee as he steers and manipulates the games.
Beetee - Kelvin Harrison Jr
We first meet Beetee in Catching Fire, the Third Quarter Quell in which surviving former tributes find themselves returning to the games. Beetee is from District 13 and a tech wiz. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see as he must watch his son Ampert Latier enter the 50th Hunger Games alongside Haymitch. Previously portrayed by Jeffrey Wright, Kelvin Harrison Jr. takes up the mantel for the new film.
Wiress - Maya Hawke
We might need to get Amanda Plummer and Maya Hawke in the same room, because we’re not convinced these women aren’t the same person with some time travel involved. Yes, Maya Hawke will play a younger Wiress, who, like Beetee, we also meet first in Catching Fire as a repeat tribute in the games. She initially took part in the 49th Hunger Games and is a mentor in the Second Quarter Quell where we meet Haymitch.
Mags - Lily Taylor
First played by the late Lynn Harriette Cohen, Mags will be played by Lili Taylor in Sunrise on the Reaping, another victor that will mentor Haymitch through his Hunger Games. She also famously mentored Finnick Odair (played by the beloved Sam Claflin), as well as volunteering as tribute in place of Annie Cresta during the 75th Hunger Games, Finnick’s wife and mother of their son.
What is the release date for Sunrise on the Reaping?
As with all the other films from the Hunger Games franchise aside from the first movie, Sunrise on the Reaping is slated to be released in November in 2026. Currently it is scheduled to be released on November 20, 2026.
Will Sunrise on the Reaping be connected to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
One would imagine so. Sunrise on the Reaping is being positioned between the events of the 2023 prequel movie The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and the Katniss Everdeen-led Hunger Games saga.
Given that Sunrise on the Reaping takes place 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, this means it takes place 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
We’re still well over a year out until the release of Sunrise on the Reaping, but all the casting news sure is exciting with so many big names signed on for the project. Currently in production, we’ll be updating this article when there is new information to share.
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