Production on “The Hunger Games: Dawn of the Reaping” has begun, as confirmed by Lionsgate on their official social media channels on Wednesday. They also released a short, mysterious teaser with glimpses from the set and B-roll footage of mysterious locations and props. This is our first sneak peek at the arena for this version of The Hunger Games, and it seems to be a formidable challenge for this year’s tributes. “Dawn of the Reaping” is a prequel to the main series, set in the notorious year when Haymitch Abernathy competed for District 12. Currently slated for release in theaters on November 20, 2026.
The pace in the Hunger Games universe has been swift, and this update on the upcoming productions is no different. Suzanne Collins’ latest novel, “Sunrise on the Reaping,” was published on March 18th of this year, but plans for a movie adaptation have been underway even before its release. This new film will continue the success of the previous prequel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” While the latter is set 64 years prior to the main series, “Sunrise on the Reaping” takes place only 24 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – now in production.
— The Hunger Games (@TheHungerGames) August 6, 2025
In this film, Joseph Zada portrays a younger version of the character Haymitch Abernathy, who was originally played by Woody Harrelson in the original series. This mentor to Katniss and Peeta will be seen. Unlike Elizabeth Banks, Elle Fanning takes on the role of a young Effie Trinket. In place of Stanley Tucci, Kieran Culkin portrays a younger Caesar Flickerman, and Jesse Plemons steps in for Philip Seymour Hoffman as a youthful Plutarch Heavensby.
In this prequel, some significant characters have been given new roles as well. At the specified timeframe, District 12 lacks any surviving champions, so instead, District 3’s character Wiress (Maya Hawke) and District 4’s Mags Flanagan (Lili Taylor) will guide them. On the other hand, Beetee (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), another champion from District 3 and Wiress’ fellow, will be competing against her by mentoring their own local representatives.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my excitement about how “Sunrise on the Reaping” was warmly received upon its release, with most reviews praising its content positively! However, as much as we yearned for deeper insights into the enigmatic world of Panem and its myriad mysteries, it’s clear that prequels must tread carefully to avoid overwhelming readers with out-of-sequence exposition.
Despite some predictability, what truly captivated me was the emotional depth the story offered – a testament to its well-deserved acclaim!
I’m optimistic that the movie adaptation will resonate strongly with fans just as much as the originals. The film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, set to hit theaters on November 20, 2026, is now available for streaming on HBO Max. Meanwhile, you can catch up on the original four movies currently streaming on HBO Max, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is available on Starz.
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2025-08-06 23:43