New ‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Trailer Drops—Meet Young Haymitch & Effie in Epic Prequel

Lionsgate has ignited fresh excitement in Panem by dropping the first teaser for “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” a big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel that revisits the brutal 50th Hunger Games and a teenage Haymitch Abernathy decades before Katniss’ revolution. Clocking in at just over a minute, the new trailer showcases rising star Joseph Zada as District 12’s smart-mouthed survivor, flanked by a powerhouse ensemble: Elle Fanning steps into Effie Trinket’s pre-Capitol stilettos, Ralph Fiennes dons President Snow’s icy smile, and Kieran Culkin inherits Caesar Flickerman’s show-host sparkle. Franchise mainstay Francis Lawrence (Catching Fire, Mockingjay) returns to direct, working from a script by Billy Ray, while producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson again steer the billion-dollar series. Set on the morning of the Second Quarter Quell, “Sunrise on the Reaping” doubles the tributes to 48, raising the stakes for districts already strangled by Snow’s regime. The teaser cuts between smoky District 12 coal pits and the Capitol’s neon opulence, hinting at the origins of Haymitch’s trademark cynicism and the political showmanship that will later inspire Katniss’ rebellion. Quick shots of arena engineering, elaborate sponsor banquets, and Capitol talk-show tapings promise a return to the franchise’s trademark blend of spectacle and social commentary. Studio analysts note that the first five Hunger Games films have grossed more than $3.3 billion worldwide, and Collins’ prequel novel sold 1.5 million copies in its first week—double the launch of “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” With the movie slated for a November 20 2026 release, Lionsgate is clearly positioning the prequel for another lucrative Thanksgiving corridor. For fans, the big questions revolve around how Haymitch wins the 50th Games, the origins of his Capitol scars, and whether familiar faces—think Jennifer Lawrence or Josh Hutcherson—might cameo. While the studio is tight-lipped, Lawrence has teased “surprising connective tissue” that links this chapter to Katniss’ saga. Search volume for “Hunger Games trailer,” “young Haymitch movie,” and “Sunrise on the Reaping release date” has spiked since the teaser landed, signaling strong pent-up demand. Expect ticket presales, cosplay chatter, and Capitol-style fashion trends to build steadily as Panem’s deadliest arena opens its gates once more.