‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Trailer Offers Extended Look at Prequel

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The release of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is almost here, arriving in theaters and IMAX this November. Fans of Suzanne Collins’ popular book series have a new reason to be excited: Lionsgate just released an extended trailer for the highly anticipated prequel. The trailer gives a glimpse into the challenges of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, and features a new cast playing familiar characters.

The newest trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (available below) offers the best preview yet of the upcoming prequel film. It’s directed by Francis Lawrence, who has directed four previous Hunger Games movies, including the most recent one, 2023’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. This new installment appears to be a departure from earlier films, showcasing a brighter, more colorful, and modern aesthetic—even though the story itself remains dark and heartbreaking, as fans of the book already know.

The trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping brings the story to life with a dark, horror-like feel. It goes back to the 50th Hunger Games to tell the story of Haymitch Abernathy – a beloved character originally played by Woody Harrelson. This new film stars Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch and connects the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to the rebellion led by Katniss Everdeen. It shows how the particularly brutal 50th Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, transformed Haymitch from a spirited young man into the jaded mentor we know from the earlier films.

Zada stars as Haymitch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, but the film also introduces younger versions of familiar characters and some new faces. We’ll see early appearances of District 12 residents Lenore Dove Baird (Whitney Peak), Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace), and Wyatt Callow (Ben Wang), as well as Capitol figures like President Coriolanus Snow (Ralph Fiennes), Effie Trinket (Elle Fanning), Caesar Flickerman (Kieran Culkin), and Plutarch Heavensbee (Jesse Plemons). Glenn Close and Billy Porter are also set to make a memorable impact as the eccentric pair, Drusilla and Magno.

The latest installment in The Hunger Games series, Sunrise on the Reaping, is set to hit theaters on November 20, 2026. Following a pattern established by previous films, the release date is timed to capitalize on the pre-Thanksgiving box office rush, a traditionally profitable period. However, it will face competition from other major movies premiering in November, including Godzilla Minus Zero, Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, and Narnia: The Magicians Nephew. While The Hunger Games films have consistently attracted large audiences—grossing $3.3 billion worldwide across five movies—Lionsgate is hoping Sunrise on the Reaping, with a budget exceeding $150 million, will be another big success for the franchise.

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2026-04-13 16:17