Explores Panem 24 years before Katniss’ saga, starting on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, where a young Haymitch Abernathy participates.

Suzanne Collins gave her readers a huge gift in returning to the world of The Hunger Games series, the first three books of which she wrote in 2008, 2009 and 2010, for the prequel story of one Haymitch Abernathy.

Haymitch, portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the quartet of films based on Collins’ original book trilogy, was Katniss Everdeen’s (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark’s (Josh Hutcherson) mentor for their two Hunger Games — the 74th and 75th.

For everything we know about the film adaptation of Hunger Game: Sunrise on the Reaping, read on:

When does the The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping film come out?

The film will arrive in theaters November 20, 2026.

Has the Sunrise on the Reaping film started production yet?

The film is still in early rounds of casting.

Who will play Haymitch Abernathy in The Sunrise on the Reaping movie?

Joseph Zada has been cast in the main role of Haymitch for the film. Zada will soon appear in another highly anticipated book adaptation, the television series We Were Liars coming to Prime Video this June. In that show, he plays Johnny Sinclair.

Deadline exclusively reported Zada’s casting alongside the actress who will play Haymitch’s love interest, Lenore Dove Baird.