Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are set to reprise their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping. The film, directed by Francis Lawrence, explores the 50th Hunger Games more than two decades before the original story. It is based on Suzanne Collins' latest novel and scheduled for release on November 20, 2026.
Overview
The Hunger Games franchise continues with Lionsgate's prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, confirming the return of original stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark. Set 24 years before the events of the first film, the story centers on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell. This edition features a deadly twist with twice the tributes, sending 48 children into the arena.
Plot and Casting Details
The narrative follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy from District 12, portrayed by Joseph Zada, a clever and resourceful boy unexpectedly chosen for the games. Haymitch later becomes the mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the original series. While the main events occur long before Katniss and Peeta's time, a flash-forward scene in Suzanne Collins' novel incorporates their characters, allowing for the cameos. The involvement was first reported by The Insneider and confirmed by multiple outlets, though Lionsgate did not respond to requests for comment.
Production and Release
Directed by Francis Lawrence, who helmed four of the five previous Hunger Games films that grossed $3.4 billion worldwide, the movie adapts Collins' book, which sold over 1.5 million copies globally in its first week—1.2 million in the U.S. alone. The franchise's five novels have sold more than 100 million copies in 52 languages. The first trailer achieved 109 million views in its initial 24 hours, marking Lionsgate's second-biggest trailer launch.
Sunrise on the Reaping is slated for theatrical release on November 20, 2026, continuing the series' legacy of dystopian storytelling.
