The Hunger Games Franchise Returns In One Year From Today

YA book-to-movie adaptations have been a pillar of Hollywood for a while, with The Hunger Games among those responsible for every studio trying to find its own. Coming on the heels of Harry Potter and Twilight‘s success, Lionsgate turned Suzanne Collins’ novels into a $3.3 billion franchise.

This began with the original quadrilogy of films starring Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen, with the series expanding in 2023 with the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, focused on a young President Snow. Once the Hunger Games books moved beyond Katniss’ story to focus on other characters, there were even more calls for other prequels and spin-offs to be made.

With the popularity of this franchise remaining high, Lionsgate is continuing to mine the books for more movies. For her part, Collins has continued to write new stories too. Luckily, we won’t have to wait that much longer for the next Hunger Games movie, as we’ve hit a major milestone.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Release Date Is One Year Away

Murray Close/©Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection

That’s right, Lionsgate’s movie adaptation of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is coming out on November 20, 2026. Directed by franchise veteran Francis Lawrence, the movie is an adaptation of Collins’ prequel novel about the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the second Quarter Quell, where Haymitch Abernathy was the eventual victor.

Sunrise on the Reaping tells Haymitch’s origin, where he’s one of four District 12 tributes (two male, two female). It chronicles his journey through the reaping, learning under the mentorship of former Hunger Games winners Mags and Wiress, and navigating a volcano-centered arena on his way to winning it all.

The exciting upcoming sci-fi book adaptation has come quickly, as Collins’ book came out on March 18, 2025. The studio and author worked closely to help speed up the film’s development, which is also why trusted voices in the series, like Lawrence and original writer Billy Ray, were brought back.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping cast is absolutely loaded with talent, bringing this long-awaited tale to life. Joseph Zada is playing the younger Haymitch, taking over the role previously occupied by Woody Harrelson. McKenna Grace, Ben Wang, and Molly McCann play District 12’s other tributes.

Meanwhile, several other familiar Hunger Games characters have been recast. Ralph Fiennes is President Snow, Jesse Plemons is Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning is Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin is Caesar Flickerman, Kelvin Harrison Jr. is Beetee, Maya Hawke is Wiress, and Lily Taylor is Wiress.

It’s unconfirmed if Harrelson will make a cameo, but that is possible based on Sunrise on the Reaping‘s prologue. That may also pave the way for Jennifer Lawrence to play Katniss once more, and the same could be true for Josh Hutcherson as Peeta.

While it’s only been two years since the last Hunger Games movie came out, it’s been 10 years since Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch were last seen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. The latter will certainly be back in the sixth film, but the two main stars could surprise too. That’d make this franchise return an even bigger deal.

With a fan-favorite character as the focus, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping‘s release is highly anticipated. Hopefully the next 365 days go by quickly until we can see it in theaters at last.