The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – Plot & Cast

Few characters in The Hunger Games universe carry as much backstory as Haymitch Abernathy, and Sunrise on the Reaping finally spotlights his brutal past through a novel and upcoming film. The novel, published March 18, 2025 by Scholastic, sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide in its first week, more than twice the opening of the previous prequel.

Book release year: 2025 ·
Film release year: 2026 ·
Main character: Haymitch Abernathy ·
Time setting: 24 years before The Hunger Games

Seven key data points, one takeaway: the franchise is expanding its timeline aggressively, with both the novel and film arriving within 18 months of each other.

What is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping going to be about?

Synopsis overview

• The story begins on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell (Lionsgate official trailer).
• The Quarter Quell requires twice as many tributes from each district (Wikipedia article).
• Haymitch Abernathy is the protagonist, set 24 years before Katniss’s story (Wikipedia article).

Setting: 24 years before Katniss

• The prequel explores Panem’s political structure before the rebellion gained momentum (Rotten Tomatoes editorial).
• Fans will see a younger, more hopeful Haymitch—a stark contrast to the broken mentor in the original trilogy.

Main character: Haymitch Abernathy

• The novel focuses on Haymitch’s experience in the 50th Games, providing backstory for his trauma and later alcoholism.
• Director Francis Lawrence returns to helm the film adaptation (Rotten Tomatoes editorial).

The pattern: the prequel reframes Haymitch’s entire arc, making his cynicism in the original trilogy a direct product of this harrowing experience.

What date is Sunrise on the Reaping coming out?

Book release date

• The novel was published on March 18, 2025 by Scholastic (Wikipedia article).
• Audiobook narrated by Jefferson White was released the same day (Wikipedia article).

Movie release date

• The film adaptation, titled The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, is scheduled for theatrical and IMAX release on November 20, 2026 (Rotten Tomatoes editorial).
• Production reportedly began in Summer 2025 at Spain’s Somiedo Natural Park (Rotten Tomatoes editorial).

The implication: the compressed timeline between book and film suggests Lionsgate is betting heavily on the franchise’s continued momentum.

Who is in the cast of Sunrise on the Reaping?

Confirmed cast members

• Haymitch Abernathy is the lead, but no actor has been officially cast as of early 2025 (Rotten Tomatoes editorial).

Speculated roles

• According to the Hunger Games Fandom Wiki, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson have reportedly been announced to return as Katniss and Peeta in a flashforward capacity, though this has not been confirmed by Lionsgate.
• Other characters like Effie Trinket or young Maysilee Donner could appear, but casting remains speculative.

The catch: every rumored appearance carries risk—if Lawrence and Hutcherson are confirmed, the film will tie directly to the original trilogy; if not, the story stands alone.

Is there a trailer for Sunrise on the Reaping?

Trailer availability

• As of early 2025, no public trailer has been released. The first trailer reportedly dropped on November 20, 2025, according to Hunger Games Fandom Wiki, though this has not been officially confirmed.

Expected trailer release

• Based on franchise patterns, a full theatrical trailer typically appears about 6–8 months before the film’s release, meaning the first major trailer should arrive by early 2026.
• The existing teaser on Lionsgate’s YouTube channel confirms the release date and title but contains no footage.

What this means: the trailer gap is normal for a 2026 release, but the reported November 2025 drop suggests a quicker marketing rollout than usual.

Is Sunrise on the Reaping a book or a movie?

Novel details

• Sunrise on the Reaping is first a novel by Suzanne Collins, published in 2025 by Scholastic (Wikipedia article).
• It is the second prequel in the franchise, following The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Film adaptation

• A film adaptation is in development, set for release on November 20, 2026 (Rotten Tomatoes editorial).
• Director Francis Lawrence, producer Nina Jacobson, and producer Brad Simpson are all returning from the previous films (Rotten Tomatoes editorial).

How they relate

• The novel provides the full story; the film will adapt it for the screen. Expect typical book-to-movie changes, but the core plot—the 50th Hunger Games—remains.

The pattern: by releasing the novel first, Collins gives readers the full context before the film condenses it—a proven strategy for fan engagement.

What this means: nearly every major beat—from announcement to trailer to casting—has been reported by fan sources, not official studios, leaving room for revision.

The stakes for Lionsgate are enormous: Sunrise on the Reaping must not only satisfy readers who devoured the novel but also draw in a new generation of viewers. For Hunger Games fans, the choice is clear: pick up the novel now to experience Haymitch’s story in full, or wait for the 2026 film adaptation that promises to bring the 50th Hunger Games to life on screen with all its brutal glory.