The odds are once again in our favor. This summer saw the return of the Hunger Games craze with the release of Suzanne Collin’s fifth installment in the series: Sunrise on the Reaping. This prequel reveals the story of the 50th Hunger Games, won by Haymitch Abernathy, and dives into the shaping of the harsh government decades before Katniss Everdeen’s rebellion.
The release of the book on March 18th, 2025, sparked an online discussion with #SunriseOnTheReaping trending on both Instagram and TikTok. Students at this school share in the excitement, copies of the book can be spotted in eager hands all around campus.
Furthering the excitement, a movie adaptation has been confirmed by Lionsgate with plans to hit theaters in November of 2026. Directed by Francis Lawrence, who additionally directed the previous four movies in the franchise, Joseph Zada has been cast as young Haymitch, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, and Ralph Finnes as President Snow. With a star-studded cast, buzz around this movie has only just begun. With the same creative team behind The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, fans have set expectations enthusiastically high.
Many of the current fans were not even born when the trilogy first debuted, speaking volumes of the power behind Collin’s storytelling. Themes of power, resistance, and manipulation of the truth remain relevant today, which in turn have made the resurgence of the franchise so powerful.
Whether you are a longtime fan, or just discovering Collin’s work, Sunrise on the Reaping can be expected to provide a fascinating and heart-wrenching return to a world where staying alive means more than survival. The Games are far from over.
