- The prequel explores the 50th Hunger Games and the story of Haymitch Abernathy.
- Francis Lawrence returns as director of the new film, continuing his legacy with the franchise.
- The book "Sunrise on the Reaping" sold over 1.5 million copies during its release week.
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, who starred as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in “The Hunger Games” franchise, are reportedly set to reprise their roles in the upcoming prequel movie “Sunrise on the Reaping.”
The prequel movie, which will be released next November, is based on the book of the same name by “Hunger Games” author Suzanne Collins, which was released this past spring.
Though the prequel is set 24 years before “The Hunger Games,” the characters Katniss and Peeta appear in the book’s epilogue, which is a flash into the future. The exact nature of Lawrence and Hutcherson’s cameo in the movie is being kept under wraps.
It was “The Hunger Games” movies that made Lawrence and Hutcherson stars in Hollywood, but they’ve both stayed busy recently. This week, Lawrence earned her seventh Golden Globe nomination for “Die My Love,” and Hutcherson has recently starred in “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2″ and “I Love L.A.”
What is ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ about?
The story of “Sunrise on the Reaping” focuses on 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, who later serves as a mentor to Katniss and Peeta during their Hunger Games.
It begins on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, which has a deadly twist: Twice the number of tributes — a total of 48 children — are being sent into the arena to fight for their lives.
The book follows Haymitch from the morning he is chosen to be a part of the Hunger Games through the aftermath of the competition. In the original film series, Haymitch was played by Woody Harrelson.
The ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ movie adaptation
The movie is set to be released on Nov. 20, 2026, and will be directed by Francis Lawrence, who has led every installment of the franchise since “Catching Fire” in 2013, per Deadline.
In a recent interview with Variety, Hutcherson hinted at possibly returning to the franchise.
“I would love to be back on set with Francis, with Jen, with Liam, with Woody,” he said. “It would not take any convincing at all. I’d be there in a heartbeat.”
During its release week earlier this year, the “Sunrise on the Reaping” book sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide — the biggest debut for one of Collins’ books, per BBC.
Since the launch of the first movie in 2012, “The Hunger Games” series has made $3.3 billion.
Many fans online are excited about the announcement of Lawrence and Hutcherson’s appearance in the new movie. But some people say they wish it would have been kept a secret so there could have been a surprise during the movie.
Who is in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ cast?
The cast of the upcoming movie was announced this summer:
- Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy
- Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird
- Ralph Fiennes as President Snow
- Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket
- Glenn Close as Drusilla
- Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee
- Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman
- Mckenna Grace as Maysilee
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier
- Maya Hawke as Wiress
- Billy Porter as Magnus
- Lili Taylor as Mags
- Ben Wang as Wyatt
- Iona Bell as Lou Lou
- Molly McCann as Louella McCoy
- Jhaleil Swaby as Panache
- Percy Daggs IV as Ampert
- Edvin Ryding as Vitus
- Iris Apatow as Proserpina
- Smylie Bradwell as Sid
- Grace Ackary as Asterid Everdeen
- Scot Greenan as Burdock Everdeen
Watch the teaser trailer for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’
Lionsgate released a teaser trailer for ”The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” last month, exactly a year before the movie’s release date.