Short answer: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping comes out in theaters and IMAX on November 20, 2026. It adapts Suzanne Collins’s 2025 novel about a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada, fighting in the 50th Hunger Games, 24 years before Katniss. Francis Lawrence directs again, the cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Jesse Plemons, and the runtime is listed at 158 minutes.
Updated October 17, 2026 · Details from Lionsgate’s announcements, Scholastic and the film’s Wikipedia entry and its sources · Prices from Amazon US, checked October 17, 2026
Keep Reading: Avengers: Doomsday Release Date, Cast, Trailers and Runtime · Dune: Part Three Release Date, Cast, Trailer and IMAX Tickets
When does Sunrise on the Reaping come out?
Friday, November 20, 2026, in theaters, with IMAX screenings. Lionsgate is releasing it in the same pre-Thanksgiving slot the franchise has used before.
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Release date | November 20, 2026 (theaters and IMAX) |
| Runtime | 158 minutes (2 hours 38 minutes), per early ratings listings |
| Director | Francis Lawrence (Catching Fire, both Mockingjay films, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) |
| Screenplay | Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie |
| Based on | Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (published March 18, 2025) |
| Studio | Lionsgate, produced by Color Force |
What is Sunrise on the Reaping about?
The story starts on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell. For this Quell, the Capitol takes twice as many tributes from every district. One of them is 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy from District 12, the man who will later mentor Katniss and Peeta.
It’s set 24 years before The Hunger Games and about 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, so it sits between the two in Panem’s timeline. If you’ve read the book, you know how it ends; if you haven’t, we’re keeping this page spoiler-free.
Who’s in the cast?
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Joseph Zada | Haymitch Abernathy |
| Whitney Peak | Lenore Dove Baird |
| Mckenna Grace | Maysilee Donner |
| Jesse Plemons | Plutarch Heavensbee |
| Ralph Fiennes | President Coriolanus Snow |
| Elle Fanning | Effie Trinket |
| Kieran Culkin | Caesar Flickerman |
| Glenn Close | Drusilla Sickle |
| Maya Hawke | Wiress |
| Kelvin Harrison Jr. | Beetee Latier |
| Lili Taylor | Mags Flanagan |
| Ben Wang | Wyatt Callow |
| Billy Porter | Magno Stift |
Several characters from the original films show up younger here, including Effie, Plutarch, Beetee, Wiress, Mags and Caesar Flickerman. Reports say Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will appear as Katniss and Peeta, but they aren’t in Lionsgate’s main cast list, so treat that as unconfirmed until the movie is out.
Is there a trailer?
Yes, two full trailers are out:
- November 20, 2025: a surprise teaser, exactly one year before release
- April 13, 2026: the first full trailer
- July 4, 2026: a “Meet Haymitch” featurette introducing Joseph Zada
- September 16, 2026: the second official trailer
The movie was filmed from July to November 2025 in Spain and Germany, wrapping in Berlin at the end of November.
Should you read the book first?
If you have time, yes. The novel gives Haymitch’s inner thoughts, which a movie can only hint at, and at about 400 pages it’s a quick read. Scholastic released a movie tie-in paperback with the film’s artwork on September 1, 2026.
What should you watch before Sunrise on the Reaping?
You don’t need to rewatch anything, since it’s a prequel with a new lead. But the payoffs land harder if you know where these characters end up. Here are both ways to watch the series:
| Release order | Story order |
|---|---|
| 1. The Hunger Games (2012) | 1. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (10th Games) |
| 2. Catching Fire (2013) | 2. Sunrise on the Reaping (50th Games) |
| 3. Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) | 3. The Hunger Games (74th Games) |
| 4. Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015) | 4. Catching Fire (75th Games) |
| 5. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) | 5. Mockingjay – Part 1 |
| 6. Sunrise on the Reaping (2026) | 6. Mockingjay – Part 2 |
Short on time? Watch Catching Fire. It’s the other Quarter Quell, and it’s where Haymitch’s past matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping come out?
November 20, 2026, in theaters and IMAX.
Who plays Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping?
Joseph Zada plays 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy. Woody Harrelson played the older Haymitch in the original films.
How long is Sunrise on the Reaping?
The runtime is listed at 158 minutes, or 2 hours 38 minutes.
Which Hunger Games is Sunrise on the Reaping?
The 50th Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell, where each district sends twice as many tributes.
Is Sunrise on the Reaping a prequel?
Yes. It’s set 24 years before The Hunger Games and after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, making it the sixth movie in the series.
Next step: book your IMAX seats for November 20 and, if you can, read the novel first. Planning a bigger movie month? Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three both open December 18; see our Doomsday guide and Dune guide.
Catch up before November 20
Also on Amazon: the movie tie-in paperback · the 5-book paperback box set · the 5-book hardcover box set
Sources: release date, runtime, cast, crew, filming and trailer dates from the film’s Wikipedia entry and the Lionsgate announcements it cites; tie-in edition details and cover art from Scholastic; prices from Amazon US, checked October 17, 2026.
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