Everything We Know About the “Hunger Games” Movie: “Sunrise on the Reaping”

They could never make me hate you Haymitch Abernathy.

Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games franchise is the gift that just keeps on giving.

The OG Hunger Games books and movies had most of us in a dystopian YA chokehold when we were younger. And in 2023 we saw yet another movie adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

Now we're getting an adaptation of the Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping about District 12 mentor Haymitch Abernathy and his Hunger Games. The film is an adaptation of the book which came out earlier in 2025 and filming will start in July.

Here's what we know about the film so far.

The film is set 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

However, we will be having to wait over a year for the movie 😫 Yes, that's right, the film release date according to Lionsgate will be 20 November 2026.

Who is in the cast?

The star of the show, aka the person playing a young Haymitch, is none other than Aussie Joseph Zada. The Sydney-born actor has recently starred in Invisible Boys and We Were Liars.

We're probably a bit biased, but the film just got so much better now we know an Aussie is in the starring role.

Whitney Peak will play Lenore Dove, Haymitch's girlfriend from District 12. Her character is also a member of the Covey, the musical group Lucy Gray Baird belonged to in Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Maysilee Donner, one of the female tributes from District 12, will be played by McKenna Grace who despite being pretty young has been in almost every single movie you can think of. We're talking I, Tonya, Gifted, The Handmaid's Tale and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Other stars confirmed in the prequel movie include Jesse Plemons as gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr as Beetee Latier a previous Hunger Games winner from District 3, and Maya Hawke (from Stranger Things) will play Wiress a female Hunger Games winner from District 3.

Who else is rumoured to join the cast?

It'll be hard to follow Elizabeth Banks who played Effie Trinket. BUT it's been rumoured Elle Fanning was offered the role of a young Effie. Which if true is a very iconic pairing.

And while Hunger Games fans everywhere would love if Tom Blyth could reprise his role as a young President Snow, given this is set 40 years in the future that might not work.

Instead, it is rumoured that Ralph Fiennes (you know, Voldemort) might take on the role of President Snow. I guess starring as one villain wasn't enough? At least he'll have a nose in this one.

And while Woody Harrelson has confirmed he's going to be in the movie, one can only hope Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson make a reappearance in the series.

The movie isn't out yet, you could always read the books all over again in anticipation between now and then.