Haymitch's Early Days: A New Chapter in the Hunger Games Saga

The Hunger Games universe is expanding with a fresh story. This time, the spotlight is on a young Haymitch Abernathy. The movie, "Sunrise on the Reaping, " is set to hit theaters on November 20, 2026. It's a prequel, taking us back 24 years before the first Hunger Games film. Haymitch, played by Joseph Zada, is sent to the 50th Hunger Games. This is a special edition, known as the Quarter Quell. During a Quarter Quell, each district sends double the usual tributes. That means 48 young people will be fighting for their lives. The film also introduces younger versions of familiar characters. Elle Fanning plays a young Effie Trinket, and Ralph Fiennes takes on the role of President Coriolanus Snow. Kieran Culkin will be Caesar Flickerman, the host of the Hunger Games. Jesse Plemons plays a younger Plutarch Heavensbee. The cast also includes Kelvin Harrison Jr. , Glenn Close, Maya Hawke, and more. Francis Lawrence is directing, with Billy Ray writing the screenplay. Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson are back as producers. This movie gives us a new perspective on the Hunger Games. It's a chance to see how Haymitch became the person we know from the original series. It's also an opportunity to explore the world of Panem in a different time. Fans of the Hunger Games will recognize some familiar faces. But they'll also discover new stories and characters. It's a mix of the old and the new, set against the brutal backdrop of the Hunger Games.