Lionsgate
Fans of The Hunger Games just got the reunion nobody dared to hope for. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are officially returning to Panem, with Lionsgate confirming on Dec. 11 that the pair will reprise their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in the upcoming prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
The news marks a full-circle moment for a franchise that last featured Lawrence and Hutcherson together in 2015’s Mockingjay — Part 2. The pair are expected to appear in a flash-forward sequence, though Lionsgate is keeping their storyline tightly under wraps.
Based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel of the same name, Sunrise on the Reaping travels back to one of the darkest chapters in Panem’s history: the infamous Second Quarter Quell. The story centres on a young Haymitch Abernathy and the Games that shaped him into the mentor we later meet in the original trilogy.
With plenty of fresh faces joining the cast, it’s set to be another brutal look at the dystopian world of Panem.
Here’s everything to know about the plot, cast, release date, and trailer.
What is the plot of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping?
The new film, which is based on the book of the same name, is a prequel to the original The Hunger Games trilogy and a narrative follow-up to the earlier prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
Set approximately 24 years before Katniss’s time in the arena, the story centres on a young Haymitch Abernathy entering the brutal 50th edition of the Hunger Games, which was also known as the “Second Quarter Quell”.
Within that larger arc, the film explores how Haymitch’s world changes. How the games shape him, the rise of propaganda and power, the doubled number of tributes, and how events in the arena cause ripple-on effects into the future of Panem.
It’s essentially the origin story of one of the original trilogy’s key characters, and provides broader context for how the dystopian mechanics of Panem came to be.
When will The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping be released?
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled for a theatrical release in Australia on November 19, 2026.
Who is in the cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping?
In a major surprise for fans, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are officially returning to the franchise. Lionsgate has confirmed the pair will reprise their iconic roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in Sunrise on the Reaping, with the duo expected to appear in a flash-forward sequence.
No additional details have been released, but their involvement marks the first time the original stars have reunited on screen since 2015’s Mockingjay — Part 2.
Other key cast members have previously been announced, including Joseph Zada as young Haymitch Abernathy and Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird. Mckenna Grace is also joining as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons is on board as a younger Plutarch Heavensbee and Ralph Fiennes steps into the role of President Coriolanus Snow. Elle Fanning is playing a younger Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin is Caesar Flickerman and Glenn Close will take on the role of Drusilla Sickle.
As is customary for Hunger Games films, there’ll be huge transformations for many of the cast members. Glenn Close has already made headlines with her look as Drusilla, with many remarking she looks completely unrecognisable.
This cast mix blends rising talent (Joseph, Whitney) with established names (Ralph, Glenn) and ties back into the wider franchise legacy.
Is there a trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping?
Yes, an official teaser trailer has been released. It dropped on November 20, 2025, marking exactly one year before the film’s release.
The teaser opens with the reaping scene in District 12, features 48 tributes lined up, and gives early glimpses of the Capitol’s spectacle, the arena, and the larger ideological stakes of Panem.
You can watch the trailer in full below.
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