The full cast details for the new Hunger Games movie, titled The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, have been revealed.
The film, based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, revisits the world of Panem nearly a quarter of a century before the events of the original films—when Woody Harrelson‘s Haymitch Abernathy served as a mentor to Jennifer Lawrence‘s Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta Mellark. Francis Lawrence, the filmmaker behind the last four movies in the franchise, is in talks to direct Sunrise on the Reaping.
The Official Cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping:
- Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy
- Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird
- Ralph Fiennes as President Snow
- Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket
- Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee
- Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier
- Maya Hawke as Wiress
- Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan
- Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow
- Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner
- Iona Bell as Lou Lou
- Molly McCann as Louella McCoy
What Is the Plot of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping?
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before the events of the Jennifer Lawrence-led films, in the world of Panem. The story begins on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
This installment focuses on Haymitch Abernathy, the only previous victor from District 12 before Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Haymitch wins these games and later becomes a mentor—portrayed by Harrelson in the original film series.
In a statement, Collins said, “With Sunrise on the Reaping, I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few…The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day.”
Collins continued, “From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for the Hunger Games franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026.”
“Sunrise on the Reaping” sold 1.5 million copies in its first week across the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the U.S. alone, it sold 1.2 million copies—twice as many as “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and three times more than “Mockingjay” in their first weeks.
The film will be produced by Nina Jacobson and her producing partner Brad Simpson, who are returning to produce under their Color Force banner.
Lionsgate will release The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping in theaters on November 20, 2026.
