We’re going back to Panem, with news that hit franchise The Hunger Games will add a new prequel to its extensive lore.
Writer Suzanne Collins (aka the mastermind behind the original Hunger Games franchise) announced that there was a fifth book in the works, titled Sunrise On The Reaping. But the good news doesn’t stop there. Mere hours after Collins shared her good news, Lionsgate joined the chat, sharing the Sunrise On The Reaping will also be receiving the movie treatment.
Excited? Us too. Below, all the important details about Sunrise On The Reaping, the newest addition to the Hunger Games series.
What Is Sunrise On The Reaping About?
Sunrise on the Reaping is a prequel to the events of The Hunger Games series. The book starts 24 years before we meet Katniss Everdeen with a 16-year-old Hyamitch Abernathy living in District 12 with his mother and younger brother. District 12 is a poor community and must produce double the number of tributes the wealthier districts do (two boys and two girls). The book begins on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
While we don’t know exactly what will happen in these games, the second book in the series, Catching Fire, does have some clues. In it, Katniss and Peta watch Haymicth’s game, and it’s also said that the reaping of the second Quarter Quell saw twice the number of tributes drawn.
Collins has also given a little insight as to what we can expect. “With Sunrise on the Reaping, I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few,’” she said via a press release. “The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative.”
Who Is Cast In The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping?
Fans are overjoyed by the news that Elle Fanning has been cast to play Effie Trinket in Sunrise on the Reaping . Australian actor Joseph Zada has also been cast as Haymitch, joining Whitney Peak (who had a starring role in the Gossip Girl revival), Mckenna Grace (The Handmaid’s Tale), Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad), Kelvin Harrison Jr (Mufasa), Maya Hawke (Stranger Things), Lili Taylor (The Conjuring), and Ben Wang (Mean Girls).
Ralph Fiennes, who is best known for his role as Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films has also been cast as the sinister President Snow. And, in hugely exciting news for fans Kieran Culkin will be stepping into the role of ebullient host who has seen far too much Caesar Flickerman.
Here is a complete breakdown of the cast.
Joseph Zada: Haymitch Abernathy
Australian actor Joseph Zada will play the film’s main character Haymitch Abernathy. A fan favourite character Abernathy was originally introduced as Katniss Everdeen’s mentor, then friend, in the original Hunger Games books. Woody Harrelson brought appropriate grit to the adult character in the Hunger Games movies so Zada will have big shoes to fill. But, in Sunrise on the Reaping things will look different for Haymitch. While in the Katniss Everdeen series he was a reluctant co-leader of a revolution and struggling with alcoholism in this film Haymitch is a young man trying to protect his loved ones, and get a message to the Capitol, while being forced to play a dangerous game.
Zada is a relative newcomer. He can be seen in Australian series Invisible Boys and is starring in an upcoming Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden.
Whitney Peak: Lenore Dove Baird
Whitney Peak will be stepping into the role of Lenore Dove Baird, the love of Haymitch’s life. Lenore Dove is part of the Covey, a travelling group of musicians confinced to District 12. Lenore’s family don’t approve of Haymitch but she has a rebellious streak. At the start of the novel she gifts Haymitch a gold flint striker which becomes the token he takes into the games.
Whitney Peak is best known for starring in the Gossip Girl reboot and also starred in Hocus Pocus 2.
Elle Fanning: Effie Trinket
Fans waited a long time for news that Elle Fanning would take the role of much loved Hunger Games stylist Effie Trinkett. Fanning knows her way around a fanciful hat and pithy one liner thanks to her starring role in period comedy drama The Great, and has a passing physical resemblance to Elizabeth Banks who portrayed the character in the first Hunger Games films.
It seems producers were also left waiting to hear if Fanning would accept the role. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-0president Erin Westerman seemed elated when she broke the news to The Hollywood Reporter.
“From the moment Suzanne [Collins] released the book, one question echoed from fans around the world: Who will play Effie? For us, there was only one answer. Elle Fanning’s career has been transcendent. She has a rare presence — warm, sparkling and layered with extraordinary depth. She was the undeniable fan favourite from the start, and we’re honoured she answered the call. The odds, it turns out, were in our favour.”
Elizabeth Banks was also supportive of the choice. “I’m super excited,” the actor told People. “I texted the producers as well, and I think she’s perfect. I’m excited for the next generation to have their Effie.” Heartwarming!
Kieran Culkin: Caesar Flickerman
In another coup for the franchise Lionsgate secured Succession actor Kieran Culkin who this year won the best supporting actor Oscar for his performance in A Real Pain. “Kieran’s magnetism, wit, and unpredictability make him a perfect fit for Caesar Flickerman,” producer Nina Jacobson told press. “A host like Caesar transforms brutality into entertainment, and an actor as layered as Kieran makes sure we don’t look away.” Culkin, for his part has been typically self deprecating. While being interviewed by Entertainment Tonight outside his Broadway production of Glengarry Glen Ross Culkin was alarmed by a fan. “Lower those expectations, please,” he told the enthusiastic fan who happily posted his request to TikTok.
Jesse Plemons: Plutarch Heavensbee
The late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman gave a haunting performance as Plutarch Heavensbee, the morally ambiguous Head Gamemaker and rebellion leader in Catching Fire and Mockingjay. The Oscar winner died with only a week of filming left and now Jesse Plemons will be stepping into the role.
Sunrise on the Reaping will see a much younger Plutarch Heavensbee. The book opens with a young Plutarch in District 12, capturing the reaping of the Tributes. While he has big shoes to fill, Plemons is well equipped. Interestingly, Plemons played Hoffman’s son in the 2012 Paul Thomas Anderson film The Master. Since then he has been nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in Power of the Dog, and delivered acclaimed performances in Kinds of Kindness and Killers of the Flower Moon.
Ralph Fiennes: President Snow
A fish rots from the head down and while there are many villains in the Hunger Games universe, President Snow is at the dystopian centre of the narrative. Who better to play him then then Voldemort? Ralph Fiennes has made a career playing bad guys whether scaring kids in a bald cap in the Harry Potter franchise or turning in chilling performances in Red Dragon, The Menu and Schindler’s List. Now he’s fresh out of Conclave and into Panem and while Donald Sutherland as Snow in the original films was good, Fiennes is nothing short of masterful.
“We wanted to honour Donald Sutherland by having one of this generation’s greatest actors play President Snow 24 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the arena,” producer Nina Jacobson told The Hollywood Reporter. “Working with Ralph has been on my bucket list since he traumatised me for life in Schindler’s List. It’s genuinely a thrill to welcome him to the Hunger Games.”
When Does The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Come Out?
Sadly for us, there’s a little bit of time to wait until we’re blessed with Sunrise On The Reaping. The film is set for release on 20 November, 2026. If you can’t wait, the book was published in March 2025 and is available via Amazon.
