It has “been a strong year for The Hunger Games,” said Asha ( @ashaslife; 1,944 followers), who thinks the book benefited from both the stage adaptation and the upcoming film release of Sunrise on the Reaping.

Sunrise on the Reaping” racked up 109 million views in 24 hours. The prequel, out Nov. 20, 2026, dives into Haymitch Abernathy’s own Games, doubling the usual number of tributes and showcasing a star-studded cast led by Joseph Zada,

Now, that winning formula is being repeated with Sunrise on the Reaping, a second prequel novel following young Haymitch Abernathy during his own stint in the Hunger Games. Set between Songbirds and Snakes and the original Hunger Games, the book is also being adapted into a movie, and it will bring back two original stars.

In December 2025, Deadline confirmed that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will return as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, respectively. Neither Lawrence nor Hutcherson have commented on the news yet. Sunrise on the Reaping will hit theaters on Nov. 20, 2026.

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, the stars of Lionsgate’s “Hunger Games” films, are set to return in the studio’s upcoming prequel film, “Sunrise on the Reaping.”