A new rebellion has long been taking shape, far from the districts, and deep within the world of cinema. Nearly a decade after audiences last watched Panem burn and rebuild, another journey into Suzanne Collins’ brutal, breathtaking world has been quietly underway. Those who believed the saga had concluded are now set to return to the uneasy calm that precedes a revolution, as Lionsgate prepares a fresh prequel chapter.

With a story rising from the ashes of the past and expanding the mythology of The Hunger Games, everything known so far about the 2026 film points to a powerful new addition to the franchise.

The 2026 Hunger Games movie is called The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and it is set to release on November 20, 2026. Adapted from Suzanne Collins’s 2025 novel Sunrise on the Reaping, Francis Lawrence helms the project with a screenplay written by Billy Ray. It serves as both a follow-up to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) and a prequel to the original Hunger Games series.

Filming for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping kicked off in July, with Lionsgate sharing a glimpse of the movie’s outdoor set next month. Moreover, a first teaser for the title was revealed a short while ago. With so many updates on the film, it is essential to explore the cast that is set to bring the story to life.

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A Stranger Things star, an Australian talent, and more have been booked for the much-anticipated instalment of The Hunger Games.

The 2026 Hunger Games film will feature Australian actor Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch Abernathy, alongside Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, and Regretting You’s Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner. Jesse Plemons will star as Plutarch Heavensbee, while Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Stranger Things staple Maya Hawke play Beetee and Wiress respectively. Elle Fanning portrays a young Effie Trinket, and Ralph Fiennes is cast as President Snow.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping explores the events leading up to the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. Set decades before the original series, it follows the origins of Panem’s brutal annual spectacle and the political tensions simmering across the districts. The story focuses on young Haymitch Abernathy and other key figures as they navigate the deadly reaping, revealing the dark roots of rebellion and the early cracks in Panem’s oppressive system that set the stage for the future revolution.

As anticipation builds, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping promises to reignite the franchise’s signature mix of tension, spectacle, and emotional stakes. With a talented cast and a story that digs deeper into Panem’s dark history, the masses are in for a prequel that honors the original saga while charting new territory. Though November 20, 2026, is exactly a year away, it is clear that the rebellion is not just on screen — it is stirring excitement across the cinematic world.

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Are you excited for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping? Let us know in the comments.