The Hunger Games Universe expands: The New book is headed to the big screen. The first teaser dropped at CinemaCon.
Suzanne Collins is bringing us back to Panem, and the arena doors are creaking open once again. The first teaser for Sunrise on the Reaping dropped on Tuesday, April 1 at CinemaCon following the official book release on March 18, 2025.
First Official Teaser
The teaser doesn't include any scenes from the movie, but it definitely sets the tone. We see the snake and the songbird symbol – familiar from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the last Hunger Games prequel that follows a young President Snow before his rise to power. But this time, the snake and the bird are engraved on a don, a small token Haymitch receives from his girlfriend Lenore Dove in the book.
Then comes the moment that gave fans chills: we hear Woody Harrelson's voice. "I think these Games are going to be different." The line is actually a quote from Catching Fire, but here it serves as a haunting voiceover from the original Haymitch actor.
A Second Quarter Quell and Haymitch's Origin Story
Set 24 years before Katniss' first Games, Sunrise on the Reaping follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy as he's thrown into the arena during the 50th Hunger Games — also known as the second Quarter Quell.
As every Hunger Games fan knows, the Quarter Quells comes with a twist. In this one? Double the tributes. Instead of 24 kids, there are 48 – four from each district. It's bloodier and even crueler than anything we've seen before.
The book tells us the full story of Haymitch's Games, from the day of the reaping – which happens to be on his birthday, by the way. We see why he became the cynical, alcoholic mentor we meet many years later in the original trilogy. His trauma runs deep – and the book doesn't shy away from showing us how it all began.
New and Old Character, Big Emotions
We meet new faces like Haymitch's girlfriend Lenore Dove, his family and several of the other tributes he fights alongside. Some of them have already become fan favorites thanks to their sharp dialogue in the book (Maysilee Donner, I'm looking at you) or heartbreaking backstories.
But Sunrise on the Reaping also took the opportunity to expand on familiar characters' lore. A young Effie Trinket appears, as well as Beete, Wiress, Mags and even Plutarch Heavensbee in the early stages of his career.
One of the biggest surprises? One of Haymitch's closest friends happens to be no other than Katniss Everdeen's father. That's right – the man we barely got to know in the original movies ends up playing a major role in Haymitch's life. There's also mention of Peeta's parents and glimpses of Katniss's mother before her husband's death broke her spirit. These little details build a bridge between past and present, expanding on the Hunger Games world, and fans are thrilled. The story is raw and heartbreaking.
What We Know About The Movie So Far
Right now, not a lot. There is no official cast, but that hasn't stopped fans from throwing out dream picks for young Haymitch – Mike Faist, for example. We know that the casting process has begun and that filming will begin in July 2025. The movie is set to release on November 20, 2026. The screenplay is written by Billy Ray as Variety first reported. He also co-wrote the first Hunger Games film back in 2012.
'THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING' will begin filming in July.Casting process has begun. pic.twitter.com/EK9hY7uQHe
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) April 1, 2025
We are excited and will keep you updated on any news!