Film Overview– The Hunger Games
- Title: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
- Release Date: November 20, 2026
- Director: Francis Lawrence (returning from Catching Fire onward)
- Screenwriter: Billy Ray
- Producers: Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson (Color Force)
- Executive Producer: Cameron MacConomy
- Studio: Lionsgate
Main Cast
- Joseph Zada as Young Haymitch Abernathy (Originally portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the main franchise) Known for:
- We Were Liars (Prime Video, upcoming June)
- East of Eden (Netflix, alongside Florence Pugh)
- Invisible Boys (Stan Australia Original)
- Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird (Haymitch’s girlfriend) Known for:
- Gossip Girl reboot (Zoya Lott)
- Hocus Pocus 2
- Shiver (Sony’s shark thriller, upcoming)
- Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle ambassador
Story Context
- Set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen enters the arena.
- Takes place on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games aka Second Quarter Quell—the same games Haymitch wins in the original lore.
- Explores Haymitch’s backstory, emotional trauma, and early life, particularly his relationship with Lenore Dove—a character new to the screen.
Buzz and Hype
- The book sold 1.5 million copies in its first week, making it the biggest Hunger Games book launch ever.
- Twice the opening week sales of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and three times that of Mockingjay.
What the Studio Says:
Erin Westerman (Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President):
Jo and Whitney carry the franchise’s legacy forward with incredible heart, depth, and fire.”
Nina Jacobson (Producer):
Jo prepared like crazy and stole our hearts. Whitney took our breath away. Together, they made casting magic.”
