Lionsgate drops surprise first look at The Hunger Games’ next chapter.
Lionsgate has released a surprise teaser trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, arriving exactly one year before the film’s 2026 debut. The studio revealed the trailer without warning, igniting fresh excitement for the next entry in the blockbuster dystopian franchise.
The film adapts Suzanne Collins’ latest novel, which became an immediate publishing phenomenon. During its first week on shelves, Sunrise on the Reaping sold 1.5 million copies across the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The U.S. accounted for 1.2 million copies alone, doubling the launch of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and tripling the opening numbers for Mockingjay.
A Return to Panem’s Dark History
Sunrise on the Reaping revisits Panem 24 years before the events of the original series. The story centers on a young Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada, and begins on the morning of the reaping for the Fiftieth Hunger Games. The event is also known as the Second Quarter Quell, a brutal turning point that shaped Haymitch long before he mentored Katniss Everdeen.
Francis Lawrence, who directed four previous films in the franchise, returns to helm the project. Billy Ray wrote the screenplay adaptation. Producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson return alongside Color Force, with Cameron MacConomy serving as executive producer. Across five films, the series has earned more than $3.3 billion worldwide, cementing its place as one of Hollywood’s most successful franchises.
A Stacked Ensemble Cast
The film features a wide-ranging ensemble. Joseph Zada stars as Haymitch Abernathy. The cast includes Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
A New Chapter Begins
The teaser offers only a hint at Lawrence’s vision, but it signals a return to the raw tone and emotional depth that defined the original series. With a story rooted in trauma, survival, and the consequences of Panem’s cruelty, Sunrise on the Reaping is positioned to deliver a darker chapter in the expanding saga.
In Theaters November 20th, 2026.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
