Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’s Trailer Finally Accomplishes A 14-Year-Long Dream

The new trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping features glimpses of the story that sets the stage for the 14-year-old first film. The Hunger Games was released in 2012, four years after the release of Suzanne Collins’ novel. It sparked a highly successful franchise consisting of five films, with the sixth installment coming later this year.

The young adult franchise is set in the dystopian country of Panem, which is split into 13 districts with much of the power residing in The Capitol. Every year, a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen to represent their district in The Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death battle royale where the last survivor wins a life of luxury.

The first film introduced Katniss Everdeen, a crafty and courageous girl who volunteers for the games to take her sister’s place. She becomes a symbol of strength in Panem, and inspired a rebellion against the ruthless President Snow. The 2023 prequel, The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, explored Snow’s past and his rise to power.

Sunrise on the Reaping takes place in between the 2023 film and the first film. It focuses on the Second Quarter Quell, and features a young Haymitch Abernathy as the representative from District 12. The trailer teases the games and also shows how the film connects the franchise’s timeline.

President Snow Is Still Bitter About What Happened With Lucy

In A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Coriolanus Snow is a mentor for 10th annual Hunger Games, and is assigned Lucy Gray Baird, the tribute from District 12. After the games are over, Snow and Lucy start a relationship. However, when she discovers his violent nature, she abandons him. He returns to The Capitol where he begins his ascent to becoming president.

The latest trailer for Sunrise on the Reaping opens with a meeting between President Snow and Haymitch. Snow says, “I bet I know a thing or two about you,” and states that he knows about Haymitch’s relationship back in his district. He says that while Haymitch and his girlfriend love each other, he is “alone” in these games.

Snow’s comments suggest he’s still bitter over how his romance with Lucy ended. He’s cynical about love, but also seems envious of others who are in strong relationships. He already appears to have an issue with Haymitch because of this, and it could explain why he later shows disdain toward Katniss, since she shares some similarities to Lucy.

Sunrise On The Reaping’s Trailer Teases The Early Stages Of The Rebellion

The trailer features several younger versions of characters from the franchise who are in the film, including Beetee, Wiress, and Plutarch Heavensbee. It also shows how some of these characters are setting up the early stages of the rebellion.

Both Beetee and Wiress are already planning the rebellion in the trailer. Beetee says, “If we can stop the games, we can stop the Capitol, too,” and Wiress says, “The arena, it’s a killing machine, but all machines can be broken.” These two characters are key to the rebellion, as well as Plutarch, who could also be planning ahead in the film.

As seen in the franchise, the rebellion won’t start until after the Third Quarter Quell, 25 years after this film. Still, it’s exciting to see how plans are being set up, and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, looks like it will connect all the pieces of this franchise together nicely.

Release Date

November 20, 2026

Director

Francis Lawrence

Writers

Billy Ray, Michael Lesslie, Suzanne Collins

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  Joseph Zada

  Haymitch Abernathy

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  Mckenna Grace

  Maysilee Donner

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  Whitney Peak

  Lenore Dove Baird

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