By Kavita Mistry 
The teaser of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the next chapter in the dystopian franchise created by Suzanne Collins, was unveiled by the makers on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The film, directed by Francis Lawrence and adapted for the screen by Billy Ray, tells the story of events that unfolded 24 years before the first ‘Hunger Games’ film. It is set to be released in theatres on November 20, 2026.
The two minute teaser serves as an introduction into the vast world of the film featuring breathtaking visuals. Joseph Zada stars as a young Haymitch Abernathy. It begins on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, a brutal edition which is also known as the Second Quarter Quell. It is what led to the trauma of Haymitch in the original franchise movies, a role which was played by Woody Harrelson. Zada is shown getting ready for the deadly competition. “I think these games are gonna be different,” he says. The teaser then offers a quick glimpse into the film as Haymitch tries to survive in the arena while worrying of his loved ones.
The film stars many well-known faces who play younger versions of familiar characters from the franchise. Ralph Fiennes stars as the Panem dictator, President Snow, Elle Fanning plays a young Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin appears as Caesar Flickerman, who is the chirpy host of the Games and Jesse Plemons plays Plutarch Heavensbee.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is adapted from Collin’s 2025 book of the same name. The first four movies in the franchise– The Hunger Games (2012), Catching Fire (2013), Mockingjay Part 1 (2014) and Mockingjay Part 2 (2015), were headlined by Jennifer Lawrence.
Watch the teaser here: