Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Release, 20 Nov 2026

Twenty-four years before the first film, 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy is reaped for the 50th Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell, in which every district must send twice the usual number of tributes to fight to the death.

Release date and status

Lionsgate has scheduled the film for 20 November 2026 in the US. As of 23 October 2026 no separate India date had been announced, so 20 November is our expected date for Indian cinemas.

Where it fits

This is the sixth Hunger Games film. It is a sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) and a prequel to The Hunger Games (2012). Lionsgate bought the adaptation rights in June 2024, when Collins announced the novel, which was published on 18 March 2025.

Story

The film follows Haymitch, played by Woody Harrelson in the earlier films and here by Joseph Zada, from the morning of the reaping for the 50th Games. Because it is a Quarter Quell, each district sends twice as many tributes. Mckenna Grace plays Maysilee Donner, the original owner of the mockingjay pin.

Cast and crew

• Director: Francis Lawrence
• Screenplay: Billy Ray, Michael Lesslie
• Music: James Newton Howard
• Cast: Joseph Zada, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons (Plutarch Heavensbee), Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Maya Hawke, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Whitney Peak, Ben Wang

Production

Filming began in Spain in late July 2025 and wrapped in Berlin on 28 November 2025.

Trailers and music

A teaser came out on 20 November 2025, a year before release. The first trailer followed on 13 April 2026 and another on 30 May 2026. James Newton Howard returns for his sixth Hunger Games score. The soundtrack album is due on 13 November 2026, led by Noah Kahan's "Draw You Out", released on 2 October 2026.

Background

Suzanne Collins announced the novel in June 2024, and Lionsgate set the film for release the same day. Francis Lawrence directs his fifth Hunger Games film, after Catching Fire, both Mockingjay parts and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force produce again. The story sits 24 years before the original film, so younger versions of familiar characters appear: Jesse Plemons plays Plutarch Heavensbee, Philip Seymour Hoffman's role in the earlier films.

OTT release

No streaming date had been announced as of 23 October 2026.