Next Hunger Games Prequel Budget Skyrockets—Double Its Predecessor!

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At the sunrise of “Reaping,” production costs are anticipated to be substantial, potentially reaching nearly twice that of its previous installment, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” The venture will be available for purchase during the upcoming Cannes market next month.

According to various market reports, it’s suggested that the upcoming film “Sunrise on the Reaping” might have a budget exceeding $150 million, with some estimates going up to $170-200 million. For reference, the movie adaptation of “The Hunger Games” had an estimated budget of around $100 million. However, these figures for “Sunrise on the Reaping” aren’t as enormous as they seem, considering that “Mockingjay – Part 2,” which was released in 2015, also had a budget of approximately $160 million.

The Hunger Games continues to be a highly profitable media empire, warranting the substantial investment, having already earned an impressive $3.3 billion globally, placing it among the top-earning film franchises ever. Similarly, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, featuring Josh Hutcherson and Sam Claflin, received mixed criticism but was a financial success, earning a total of $349 million worldwide.

Apart from the movies, the source material for “The Hunger Games” franchise continues to captivate audiences. The novel “Sunrise on the Reaping,” released on March 18, 2025, set a new record for the series with over 1.5 million copies sold worldwide in its first week. This debut surpassed the opening sales of “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by double and those of “Mockingjay” by triple.

The New Hunger Games Prequel Begins Casting Its Stars

It has been announced that the filming of “Sunrise on the Reaping” will commence in July this year, under the direction of Francis Lawrence from Billy Ray’s adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel. The movie is slated for release in theaters on November 20, 2026. This story unfolds forty years after “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” and twenty-four years prior to the initial events portrayed in the first “Hunger Games” film. It focuses on the 2nd Quarter Quell, with a central character engaged in the brutal games.

Lately, it’s been announced who will be playing the new characters in the upcoming Hunger Games adaptation. Joseph Zada is set to play the young Haymitch, while Whitney Peak has been cast as Leonore Dove Baird. McKenna Grace is chosen for Maysilee Donner, and Jesse Plemons will assume the role of Plutarch Heavensbee. More casting announcements are anticipated soon.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set to be released on Nov. 20, 2026 by Lionsgate.

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2025-04-30 23:20