Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Teaser Drops

The Panem arena is roaring back! Lionsgate just unleashed the first teaser trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and it’s already setting the Capitol ablaze. This highly anticipated prequel, based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel, dives into the brutal origins of fan-favorite character Haymitch Abernathy while exploring the deadly politics of Panem’s most twisted Games yet.

What We Learned from the Trailer

The trailer opens on the ominous morning of the 50th Hunger Games – the dreaded Second Quarter Quell. As the narrator ominously states, “Each district will send twice the tributes.” That’s right: 48 children will fight to the death in a spectacle of cruelty and survival.

Joseph Zada makes his debut as a young Haymitch Abernathy, the victor who later became the jaded mentor to Katniss Everdeen. We see him in the brutal arena, already displaying the cunning and ferocity that would define his character. The footage is intense, fast-paced, and leaves no doubt this prequel will be darker and more visceral than its predecessors.

A Star-Studded Panem Reborn

The trailer confirms an all-star ensemble breathing life into new and returning roles:

• Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch Abernathy
• Elle Fanning as a younger Effie Trinket
• Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman
• Maya Hawke and Mckenna Grace in key roles
• Ralph Fiennes returning as President Coriolanus Snow
• Jesse Plemons as a younger Plutarch Heavensbee
• Glenn Close, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Whitney Peak, and Billy Porter joining the fray

“This is the story of how a boy from District 12 became a legend… and how the Games broke him.”

Connecting the Hunger Games Universe

Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before the original trilogy, directly linking to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. It features Snow’s early presidency, showing how he manipulates the Quarter Quell to consolidate power. With Donald Sutherland’s iconic portrayal of Snow now immortalized, Ralph Fiennes steps into the role, ensuring continuity across the franchise.

Why This Prequel Matters

While previous films explored Snow’s rise, this prequel shifts focus to District 12’s perspective. We’ll witness how the Capitol’s tyranny shapes tributes like Haymitch, Effie, and others long before Katniss ever volunteered. The teaser hints at themes of rebellion, sacrifice, and the psychological toll of the Games – themes that resonate even more strongly today.

Directed by Francis Lawrence (who helmed Catching Fire and Mockingjay), the film reunites key creatives like producer Nina Jacobson. Screenwriter Billy Ray adapts Collins’ latest novel, promising a faithful yet cinematic expansion of the Panem saga.

Mark Your Calendars

Tease your inner tribute: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters on November 20, 2026. Until then, rewatch the trailer and revisit Collins’ novels – the countdown to the 50th Hunger Games has officially begun.