The Next Hunger Games Movie Will Do Something We’ve Never Seen Before

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Fans can look forward to a thrilling new installment in The Hunger Games series with Sunrise on the Reaping. This film, based on Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel, is set 24 years before the events involving Katniss and Peeta. It tells the story of Haymitch Abernathy’s own Hunger Games experience, revealing his difficult past before he mentored Katniss and Peeta. Following The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023), Sunrise on the Reaping aims to deliver something unique – a perspective never before seen in the previous five Hunger Games films.

With Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson returning as Katniss and Peeta in Sunrise on the Reaping, the movie will feature all the Hunger Games winners from District 12. That even includes an appearance by Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird. While it’s uncertain if Woody Harrelson will reprise his role as Haymitch, Joseph Zada will be playing a younger version of the character and is expected to deliver a strong performance. Having all four District 12 victors together is exciting news for fans of The Hunger Games.

WARNING: This article contains minor spoilers for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

All Four District 12 Victors Are in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

It’s surprising to see Haymitch, Katniss, Peeta, and Lucy Gray all connected in one story, but Sunrise on the Reaping manages to do just that. The novel features Katniss and Peeta in a brief epilogue set after the events of Mockingjay. This two-page section, told without any dialogue, shows what life looks like for Haymitch with Katniss, Peeta, and their children in the years to come.

A short clip of Lucy Gray Baird appears near the end of Sunrise on the Reaping. It shows her performing on stage in District 12 shortly after winning the 10th Hunger Games – a scene originally from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The filmmakers don’t need to shoot any new footage with Rachel Zegler, as they can use the existing scene. Lucy Gray’s appearance isn’t just a cameo; it’s a meaningful moment with a bigger role in the film than expected.

If the new movie, Sunrise on the Reaping, stays true to the book, Katniss, Peeta, and Lucy Gray won’t be featured heavily. However, seeing them on screen will still be a treat for fans. The movie cleverly weaves together the stories of all the District 12 winners, showing that despite Lucy Gray’s separation, they’re all more connected than we realized. Collins demonstrates a larger, underlying connection between these characters.

Fans who grew up with The Hunger Games books and movies will be thrilled to see Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson back for the new film. It would be even more exciting if Woody Harrelson joined them too! It’s been eleven years since the last Hunger Games movie, and these actors are still beloved for their roles, so their return in Sunrise on the Reaping is generating a lot of well-deserved attention.

Sunrise on the Reaping Is a Completely Different Hunger Games Prequel

Unlike The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Sunrise on the Reaping feels more connected to the original Hunger Games trilogy. The new movie features eight characters who also appear in the earlier films, offering viewers a deeper understanding of what happens later in the series. Expect to see Ralph Fiennes return as President Coriolanus Snow, alongside Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Lili Taylor as Mags, Maya Hawke as Wiress, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, in addition to Zada’s portrayal of Haymitch.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games, with only Coriolanus Snow and his sister Tigris appearing in later stories. The upcoming film, Sunrise on the Reaping, takes place closer in time to the original trilogy, meaning fans will see familiar characters as younger versions of themselves. The return of Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson as Katniss and Peeta in Sunrise on the Reaping is building a lot of excitement for the next Hunger Games movie.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in theaters on November 20, 2026.

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2025-12-15 21:14