Set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, the film explores the 50th Hunger Games, one of the most brutal chapters in the Capitol’s history. At the center of the story is young Haymitch Abernathy, portrayed by rising Australian actor Joseph Zada. He leads a powerhouse cast that includes screen legends Glenn Close and Ralph Fiennes, hinting that this prequel is aiming for both emotional depth and spectacle.
The movie marks the fifth installment in the blockbuster franchise and will officially arrive in theaters on November 20, 2026. With the first footage finally out in the world, fans can now start piecing together what promises to be a darker, more intense dive into the early years of Panem, not to mention a new look at the Games that shaped Haymitch long before he became the mentor we know.
Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Photo Credit: Murray CloseLionsgate
When does Sunrise on the Reaping come out?
Mark your calendars: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping arrives exclusively in theaters on November 20, 2026.
Francis Lawrence returns to the director's chair for this fifth Hunger Games film. Lawrence previously helmed Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, Mockingjay Part 2, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, making him the franchise veteran behind the camera. Billy Ray penned the screenplay adaptation of Suzanne Collins' novel. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson are producing, with Cameron MacConomy serving as executive producer.
Who's in the Sunrise on the Reaping cast?
Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird and Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Photo Credit: Murray CloseMurray Close/Lionsgate
Jesse Plemons
Plemons joins the cast as a young version of Plutarch Heavensbee. Plutarch, originally portrayed by the late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, Plutarch Heavensbee, is the Head Gamemaker for the 75th Hunger Games and a commander in the rebellion against the Capitol. Looks like we finally get to see more of his origin story.
Glenn Close
Close portrays Drusilla Sickle, the cruel Capitol escort assigned to District 12's tributes. This sinister character serves as a predecessor to the flamboyant Effie Trinket from the original films. The eight-time Oscar nominee recently appeared in projects like The Wife, Hillbilly Elegy, and Albert Nobbs, and continues to prove why she's one of Hollywood's most formidable talents.
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Elle Fanning
Grace takes on Maysilee Donner, one of the tributes competing in the 50th Hunger Games. Fans of the books will recognize this as a significant character—Maysilee is Madge's aunt, and her story connects to the origins of the iconic mockingjay pin. Grace has proven her ability to handle emotionally complex roles in projects like Gifted and The Handmaid's Tale.
Maya Hawke
Peak plays Lenore Dove Baird in the film. The Gossip Girl reboot star continues to build an impressive résumé of high-profile projects.
Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Billy Porter
Porter joins the cast as Magno Stift, the negligent designer for District 12 and Drusilla Sickle's long-estranged husband.
Will Sunrise on the Reaping stream on Netflix or another platform?
The film is scheduled for theatrical release only as of now, with no streaming information announced yet.
How does Sunrise on the Reaping fit into the Hunger Games timeline?
Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Photo Credit: Murray CloseLionsgate
The book on which the film is based became a massive bestseller, selling 1.5 million copies in its first week across the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand—with 1.2 million of those sold in the U.S. alone. Those numbers were double the first-week sales of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and triple the first-week sales of Mockingjay.
What happened in the Sunrise on the Reaping book?
BUT IF YOU DO WANT SPOILERS (you've been warned!):
Haymitch becomes the victor through an unintended stroke of luck: the last opposing tribute throws an axe at him near the arena's edge, but it bounces back from an invisible barrier and kills her instead. Snow retaliates against Haymitch's rebellious behavior by having his family killed, and Lenore Dove is poisoned with candy Haymitch unknowingly gives her. These truly devastating losses transform him into the bitter, alcoholic mentor Katniss and Peeta meet years later.
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