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How Does "Sunrise on the Reaping" Fit into the Hunger Games Timeline?

Enthusiasts will remember this as the year when Haymitch Abernathy, an essential figure from The Hunger Games, achieved triumph.

ByMarisa Alcantar|
Book Launch Of "Tim Palen: Photographs From The Hunger Games" At Maison Assouline
Book Launch Of "Tim Palen: Photographs From The Hunger Games" At Maison Assouline | David M. Benett/GettyImages

The Hunger Games fandom is in for a treat as Lionsgate unveils plans for the cinematic adaptation of "Sunrise on the Reaping," Suzanne Collins' upcoming prequel novel to The Hunger Games series.

Mark your calendars for November 20, 2026, as Lionsgate sets the release date for the film adaptation of "Sunrise on the Reaping." Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, the producers behind the previous Hunger Games movies, are back on board for this upcoming installment.

Additionally, talks are underway to bring Francis Lawrence, who directed four out of the five Hunger Games films starting from "Catching Fire," back to helm the project.

"Suzanne Collins is a master storyteller and our creative guiding light," remarked Adam Fogelson, President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. "We couldn't be more fortunate to have the guidance and trust of a collaborator whose talent and imagination are consistently brilliant. We know Hunger Games fans worldwide will be captivated by Suzanne's approach to this next extraordinary story. Like fans around the globe, we eagerly anticipate this thrilling return to Panem."

Film and book announcements

"Sunrise on the Reaping" serves as another prequel in Collins' dystopian series, set 40 years after "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" but 24 years before the events of the original Hunger Games novel. It kicks off on the morning of the Reaping for the 50th Hunger Games. Devoted fans will recall this as the year when Haymitch Abernathy, a key character from The Hunger Games, emerged victorious.

While it may seem like a swift move to greenlight a cinematic adaptation mere hours after the announcement of the upcoming Hunger Games novel, Lionsgate had expressed interest in creating Hunger Games prequels as far back as late 2015.

In line with this, last year Lionsgate brought Collins' 2020 prequel novel "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" to the big screen, featuring Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth in lead roles. The film proved to be a triumph for Lionsgate, raking in $337.4 million at the global box office.

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