Get ready Hunger Games fans, as the story isn’t over just yet. Following on from the release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes late last year, Suzanne Collins has confirmed she is releasing a new book Sunrise on the Reaping based on the 50th Hunger Games, aka Haymitch’s games. And if it couldn’t possibly get any better, a movie adaptation, coming in 2026, is also confirmed.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Hunger Games movie Sunrise on the Reaping.
What will The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping be based on?
On 7th June 2024, it was confirmed Suzanne Collins would be releasing another Hunger Games novel on 18th March 2025, this time telling the story of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
As all Hunger Games fans will know, the 50th Hunger Games was Haymitch’s games, and in “honour” of the 50th anniversary of the games, there were twice the number of tributes reaped, with two boys and two girls taken from each district.
In a post on the official Hunger Games Instagram account the news was confirmed: “Just Announced: A NEW Hunger Games novel by Suzanne Collins coming March 18, 2025! Sunrise on the Reaping will revisit the world of Panem twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.”
And in a statement from Suzanne Collins, the writer, revealed her inspiration for the new novel, saying: “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….’ The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day.”
Shortly following the announcement of the book news, Lionsgate then confirmed they would be making a movie based on the new book. Honestly, this is too much for us to handle.
What is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping about?
Sunrise on the Reaping will tell the story of the 50th Hunger Games, which was a quarter quell year and saw 48 tributes reaped for the games.
While Suzanne Collins hasn’t released the novel yet, in the original Hunger Games novels trilogy she did reveal some details about Haymitch’s games, so read on if you want to find out some *spoilers* about what happens in Haymitch’s games.
Haymitch is of course from District 12 and he is 16 years old when he is reaped alongside Maysilee Donner. The pair formed an alliance, and survived the majority of the games together. When there were just five tributes left, Maysilee decided to go out alone so she wouldn’t have to kill Haymitch. She died after being attacked by bird-mutts and Haymitch held her hand as she passed away.
Haymitch then went onto win the games by using the arena forcefield to kill the last tribute.
Who will star in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping?
Ok, it’s the question we all want to know, who is going to play Haymitch? In the original Hunger Games movies Haymitch was portrayed by Woody Harrelson, but as of yet, as the movie has only just been announced, there’s been no official confirmation on who will be playing the younger version of Haymitch.
When is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping being released?
Good news! While it’s a long time to wait, we do have already have a release date for Sunrise on the Reaping, which is set to arrive in cinemas on 20th November 2026.
With the release of the book next March, we’re hoping those two years will fly by. Right?
Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer
Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from , to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating , covering exciting new releases and sharing the latest must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of . After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into journalism, writing for the , before working as Features Editor at , where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on .
