The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026)

"The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" is an upcoming American dystopian action film directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie. Based on the 2025 novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, it is the sixth film in The Hunger Games series. It serves as both a sequel to "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" (2023) and a prequel to "The Hunger Games" (2012).

Plot:

Set 24 years before the events of the first film, on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell. The story centers on a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada), the future mentor of Katniss Everdeen. This time, the number of tributes is doubled — 48 participants from the twelve districts of Panem. Haymitch must survive the brutal arena and find a way to dismantle the oppressive system. The film also features an epilogue with the return of adult Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), who appear in a flashforward.

Cast:

• Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy
• Devon Singletary as Blair, Haymitch's best friend
• Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen (flashforward)
• Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark (flashforward)
• Other roles played by: Sonya Dorado, John De Luca, Rob Kipa-Williams, Kelly Gale, Lucy Barrett, Priya Jane, Ryan Bone, Jacqueline Lee Geurts, Lakota Johnson, and others.

Crew:

• Director: Francis Lawrence
• Screenwriters: Billy Ray, Michael Lesslie
• Original novel author: Suzanne Collins
• Studio: Lionsgate

The Hunger Games franchise chronology:

• "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" (2023) — a prequel telling the story of a young Coriolanus Snow 64 years before the original trilogy. The film shows his rise as the future president of Panem.
• "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" (2026) — the events of the 50th Hunger Games, where Haymitch Abernathy becomes the victor.
• "The Hunger Games" (2012) — Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister's place in the 74th Hunger Games.
• "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" (2013) — Katniss and Peeta are forced to participate in the Quarter Quell again.
• "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1" (2014) — Katniss becomes the symbol of the rebellion against the Capitol.
• "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2" (2015) — the final battle for Panem's freedom.

Where to watch:

The film will be released in theaters and IMAX on November 20, 2026. Official streaming platforms have not yet been announced. To search for tickets and future digital releases, you can use the search on UAKino: Search on UAKino.