The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Trailer Drops With Star-Studded Cast

One year before its theatrical release, Lionsgate has unveiled the first teaser trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, giving fans their first glimpse at the highly anticipated prequel set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen's story begins.

Released on November 20, 2025—exactly a decade after Mockingjay Part 2 concluded the original trilogy—the teaser introduces Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch Abernathy during the deadly 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on November 20, 2026.

Glenn Close Transforms for District 12 Escort Role

The trailer's most striking moment features Glenn Close in an almost unrecognizable transformation as Drusilla Sickle, the District 12 tribute escort. Sporting facial prosthetics and dramatically altered teeth, the 78-year-old actress delivers a chilling performance as she announces the Quarter Quell's brutal twist to the gathered crowd.

"Welcome Panem, to the glorious reaping of District 12," Close's character declares before revealing the horrifying news: "Twice the tributes. Twice the glory."

This casting marks Close's continued involvement with the franchise, following her memorable appearance in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes as Tigris Snow. Her latest role showcases the extensive makeup and prosthetics work that has become a hallmark of the series' visual storytelling.

A Star-Studded Ensemble Brings Panem's Past to Life

The film boasts an impressive roster of talent, mixing established stars with rising actors. Ralph Fiennes steps into the role of President Coriolanus Snow, following Donald Sutherland's iconic portrayal in the original films and Tom Blyth's younger version in the recent prequel.

Kieran Culkin takes on Caesar Flickerman, the Games' slick television host, while Elle Fanning portrays a younger Effie Trinket—roles that will show these characters before they became the figures audiences know from the original trilogy. Jesse Plemons appears as a young Plutarch Heavensbee, capturing the reaping ceremony years before his transformation into a rebellion leader.

The cast also includes Maya Hawke as Wiress, Billy Porter as Magno Stift, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, and Lili Taylor as Mags—all characters whose younger versions will provide new context for their later appearances in the franchise.

Joseph Zada Leads as Young Haymitch

At the center of it all is Joseph Zada, best known for his role in Amazon's We Were Liars, who takes on the challenging task of portraying Haymitch Abernathy as a teenager. The character, made famous by Woody Harrelson in the original films, becomes the focus of this prequel story.

Producer Nina Jacobson has called casting Haymitch "one of the biggest challenges of the production," noting the need to capture both the character's "mischievous spark and the underlying depth." The brief footage shows Zada's Haymitch demonstrating his fighting prowess, with the young tribute declaring, "I think these games are gonna be different."

Joining Zada from District 12 are Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird—Haymitch's girlfriend and a descendant of Lucy Gray Baird from The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes—and McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, another tribute from the district.

A Florida Connection to the Games

In an exciting development for local fans, Jacksonville, Florida resident Devon Singletary won an open casting call to play Blair, Haymitch's best friend. The 26-year-old actor and filmmaker describes himself as "a ball of energy" who has been pursuing his acting career for nearly a decade. His casting represents one of the franchise's efforts to discover new talent through public auditions.

The Second Quarter Quell: A Darker Chapter

Based on Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel of the same name, Sunrise on the Reaping revisits Panem during one of its darkest moments. The story unfolds on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games, where a cruel twist doubles the number of tributes reaped from each district—making it the bloodiest Games in Panem's history.

The teaser trailer hints at the brutal arena awaiting the contestants, showing glimpses of a grassy, wooded environment with "flourishing plant and animal life." The screen dramatically announces: "Next year, a new era of the Games begins."

This installment bridges the gap between The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (set 64 years before the original trilogy) and Katniss's story, providing crucial context for how Panem's oppressive regime evolved and how Haymitch became the cynical mentor audiences first met in 2012.

Francis Lawrence Returns to Direct

Director Francis Lawrence, who helmed Catching Fire, both Mockingjay films, and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, returns to bring Collins' latest novel to the screen. His continued involvement ensures visual and tonal consistency across the franchise's later installments.

Billy Ray, who wrote the screenplay for the first Hunger Games film, adapts Collins' novel, marking what producers call "a full-circle moment for the franchise." Long-time producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force are overseeing production, with Cameron MacConomy serving as executive producer.

Record-Breaking Book Sales Signal Strong Fan Interest

The film arrives with considerable momentum behind it. Collins' novel sold an astounding 1.5 million copies in its first week across the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The 1.2 million copies sold in the U.S. alone represent twice the first-week sales of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and three times those of Mockingjay.

This commercial success, combined with the franchise's impressive box office history—over $3.3 billion globally across five films—positions Sunrise on the Reaping as one of 2026's most anticipated releases. Lionsgate has already sold international rights to a host of buyers, reflecting confidence in the film's worldwide appeal.

Expanding the Franchise Beyond Film

The release of Sunrise on the Reaping coincides with Lionsgate's broader strategy to expand the Hunger Games universe. The studio recently launched a stage adaptation in London, extending the franchise into live theater. This multi-platform approach demonstrates the enduring appeal of Collins' dystopian world and its themes of resistance, survival, and the cost of entertainment built on human suffering.

The Legacy Continues

As the teaser trailer makes clear, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping promises to deliver the same visceral thrills and political commentary that made the franchise a cultural phenomenon. By exploring Haymitch's origin story during the most brutal Games in Panem's history, the film offers both longtime fans and newcomers a chance to understand how the world of The Hunger Games became the powder keg that eventually exploded in Katniss's revolution.

With its November 20, 2026 release date set, the countdown to the 50th Hunger Games has officially begun. For audiences eager to return to Panem, the wait may feel like its own kind of arena—but if the teaser trailer is any indication, the survival story of young Haymitch Abernathy will be worth every moment.