The Hunger Games Franchise Gears Up for "Sunrise on the Reaping" with Extended Teaser

The Hunger Games franchise, based on the bestselling novels by Susan Collins, has grossed over $3.4 billion at the global box office across five films and shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Lionsgate just dropped an extended teaser for the sixth film, "Sunrise on the Reaping"—a sequel to 2023’s "Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" and a prequel leading into the events of the first film, "The Hunger Games" (2012).

While the first prequel, "Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," was considered the weakest film in the franchise, it still earned $349 million globally. That film explored the backstory of future Panem President Coriolanus Snow, showing his transformation from a well-meaning mentor to a conniving villain.

However, anticipation is high for "Sunrise on the Reaping." The novel, published last year, marked a return to form for Collins, selling 1.5 million copies in its first week. This installment focuses on a young Haymitch Abernathy, who will become the future District 12 mentor to Katniss and Peeta. The story delves into how he became his jaded, cynical, yet secretly hopeful self.

Joseph Zada stars as young Haymitch, selected as a tribute for the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. In this iteration of the Games, each district must send twice as many tributes to compete to the death. Haymitch’s fellow District 12 tributes are Maysilee (Mckenna Grace), Wyatt (Ben Wang), and Louella (Molly McCann). The narrative will explore how Haymitch wins his Games and what he loses in the process.

The cast also features Jesse Plemons as a young cameraman named Plutarch; Ralph Fiennes as a middle-aged President Snow; Glenn Close as District 12 chaperone Drusilla Sickle; Kieran Culkin as a young Caesar Flickerman, host of the Games; Elle Fanning as the young Effie Trinket, a stylist; Billy Porter as another stylist, Magno Stift; Maya Hawke as a young Wiress, winner of the prior year’s Games; Lili Taylor as the young Mags Flanagan, winner of the 11th Games; Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, another prior winner; and Whitney Peak as Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird.

The film will also introduce Asterid March (Grace Ackary), BFF to Maysilee and future mother to Katniss, and Burdock Everdeen (Scot Greenan), future father to Katniss. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are expected to reprise their roles as Katniss and Peeta, likely in a flash-forward cameo to connect the prequel to the original film.

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