The Hunger Games franchise is returning to the big screen with the upcoming film “Sunrise on the Reaping,” based on the new prequel novel by Suzanne Collin’s. Following the massive success of “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” Lionsgate announced that this new movie will come to theaters in November 2026, taking fans back to the world of Panem during one of its most legendary moments: the Second Quarter Quell.

The story centers on Haymitch Abernathy, the fan-favorite mentor of Katniss Everdeen. Set 24 years before the original trilogy, the film explores the 50th Hunger Games, a year where the Capitol doubled the number of tributes to remind the districts that for every two rebels who died, one capital citizen died too. This means Haymitch had to survive in a field of 47 other tributes rather than the usual 23.

The film is expected to delve into the political machinations of a younger President Snow as he solidifies his power. For fans of the series, this movie promises to explain the origin of Haymitch’s cynical worldview and the tragic loss that led to his isolation. “Sunrise on the Reaping” is already one of the most anticipated releases for the next generation of of Panem enthusiasts.