The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

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The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Directed by Francis Lawrence
Screenplay by Billy Ray
Based on Sunrise on the Reaping
by Suzanne Collins
Produced by
Starring
Production
company
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release date
  • November 20, 2026 (2026-11-20)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is an upcoming American dystopian action film directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Billy Ray. Based on the 2025 novel Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, it serves as both a sequel to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) and a prequel to The Hunger Games (2012), and is the sixth installment in The Hunger Games film series. It stars Joseph Zada, Mckenna Grace, Whitney Peak, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Lili Taylor, Billy Porter, Glenn Close and Ralph Fiennes.

Contents

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled to be released in the United States on November 20, 2026.

Cast

Tributes

Capitol Residents

Mentors

District 12 Residents

Production

Development

In June 2024, with the announcement that Suzanne Collins would be publishing her next installment in The Hunger Games series on March 18, 2025, titled The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Lionsgate Films greenlit a feature film adaption of the book, with Francis Lawrence in talks to return to direct. [1]

Casting

Casting began quietly in December 2024, with the casting department led by Debra Zane and Dylan Jury; a casting call was put out for young Haymitch, Lenore Dove, and Maysilee. Zane and Jury also began making lists for the younger adult versions of legacy characters. [2]

In April 2025, Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, and Jesse Plemons were cast. [3] [4] [5] In May 2025, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Molly McCann, Iona Bell, Elle Fanning, and Kieran Culkin were brought on. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Glenn Close, Billy Porter, Jhaleil Swaby, Laura Marcus, Percy Daggs IV, and Rada Rae joined the cast in June 2025. [15] [16]

In July, Sky Frances, Tatyana Muzondo, Alina Reid, Salimou Thiam, John Doeble and Karine Buffange joined the cast as additional tributes. [17] Later that month, Kara Tointon, Smylie Bradwell, Jeffrey Hallman, Serafin Mishiev, Scot Greenan, Grace Ackary, Melody Chikakane Brown, Jefferson White, Iris Apatow, Edvin Ryding, Sandra Förster, and Jax Guerrero rounded out the cast. [18] [19] [20]

Filming

Principal photography began in late July in Spain, and was teased by official Hunger Games social media accounts on August 6, 2025. [21] Shooting locations included Somiedo and Teverga. [22]

Release

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled to be released in the United States on November 20, 2026. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 6, 2024). "'The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping': Lionsgate Sets Fall 2026 Release For New Prequel, Director Francis Lawrence In Talks To Return". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  2. Ishmael, Aiyana (July 14, 2025). "Yes, 'Sunrise on the Reaping' Casting Directors Know They're Nailing It". Teen Vogue. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  3. Grobar, Matt (April 23, 2025). "'The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Casts Joseph Zada As Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak As Lenore Dove Baird". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  4. Kroll, Justin (April 24, 2025). "'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie At Lionsgate Taps Mckenna Grace In Maysilee Donner Role". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  5. Kroll, Justin (April 25, 2025). "'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie Taps Jesse Plemons To Play Plutarch Heavensbee In Lionsgate Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  6. Stephan, Katcy (May 13, 2025). "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' Adds Kelvin Harrison Jr. As Beetee". Variety . Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  7. Grobar, Matt (May 14, 2025). "Maya Hawke Joins 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' As Wiress". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  8. Grobar, Matt (May 14, 2025). "'The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Casts Lili Taylor As Mags". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  9. Stephan, Katcy (May 15, 2025). "'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' Adds Ben Wang as Wyatt (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety .
  10. Gajewski, Ryan (May 16, 2025). "Ralph Fiennes to Play President Snow in 'Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' (Exclusive)".
  11. Gajewski, Ryan (May 20, 2025). "'Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' Finds Its Louella and Lou Lou (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  12. Gajewski, Ryan (May 20, 2025). "Elle Fanning to Play Effie in 'Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  13. Elle Fanning Eyed to Play Effie Trinket in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’
  14. Kieran Culkin Joins ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’ As Caesar Flickerman
  15. Tartaglione, Nancy; Grobar, Matt (June 16, 2025). "Glenn Close & Billy Porter Join Cast Of Lionsgate's 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  16. ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’ Casts Jhaleil Swaby As Panache
  17. Sunrise On The Reaping: 4 More Tributes Have Been Cast
  18. Tointon Bradwell Hellman Mishiev join cast Instagram post
  19. Greenan Ackary Brown White join cast Instagram post
  20. Stephan, Katcy (July 25, 2025). "'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' Casts Iris Apatow and Edvin Ryding as Production Begins (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  21. Northrup, Ryan (August 6, 2025). "Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Gets Major Filming Update With First Look At The Deadly Arena". Screen Rant . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  22. Gutiérrez, Marcos (August 20, 2025). "Teverga y Somiedo celebran la «difusión» generada por «Los juegos del hambre»: «Se metió la patita para que la gente nos ubique»". La Voz de Asturias (in Spanish). Retrieved August 25, 2025.