‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Teaser Wreaks Havoc on the Internet
Let the hunger games begin
Exactly 1 year ahead of its debut, Lionsgate released the first teaser of the highly anticipated film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Currently sitting at 2.2 million views on YouTube (and rising), the teaser takes the internet by storm as they dissect and theorize just how far this latest installment will go during the reaping. Based on the best-selling novels by Suzanne Collins, the film takes place 24 years before Katniss’s journey, on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games reaping. This adaptation brings to life the backstory of favorite (and hated) characters as they fight to the death for a chance to live a bountiful life. An all-star cast is lined up to bring these characters to life; Joseph Zada (Haymitch), McKenna Grace (Maysilee), Elle Fanning (Effie), Whitney Peak (Lenore), Jess Plemons (Plutarch), Ralph Fiennes (President Snow), Maya Hawke (Wiress), and Glenn Close (Drusilla Sickle).
From Book to Box Office
Sunrise on the Reaping takes us into a specific Hunger Games season known as the Second Quarter Quell—an event requiring double the number of tributes from each district, making it an extremely deadly event (more than it already is). The story centers young Haymitch Abernathy (Zada) as he navigates the dangers of the games while trying to protect everyone he holds dear.
The following themes will be explored:
Political manipulation
Societal control
Psychological trauma
Propaganda
Hope vs oppression
Sunrise on the Reaping is the second prequel to The Hunger Games franchise, following The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and was published March 18, 2025. Suzanne named the book its title to reference the philosophical ideas of David Hume (an influential Scottish philosopher and historian) and the concept of new beginnings—a title and influence that reflects the core themes of the book and the film. Sunrise on the Reaping is set to hit theaters everywhere November 20, 2026. Mark your calendars, prepare for ticket sales, and may the odds ever be in your favor.