Director Francis Lawrence shares new details about the upcomingHunger Gamesmovie,Sunrise on the Reaping, atCinemaCon. After the four successful installments chronicling Katniss Everdeen’s story and theBallad of Songbirds and Snakesprequel movie, anotherHunger Gamesprequel is set to arrive next November. This one, once again based on a novel by Suzanne Collins, takes place during the 50th Hunger Games and follows a young Haymitch Abernathy as he competes. Though Woody Harrelson played an older Haymitch in the previousHunger Gamesmovies, theSunrise on the Reapingcastwill include a younger actor in the part.
Recently, at Cinema Con 2025, whereScreenRantwas in attendance, the studio provided new details aboutSunrise on the Reaping,including information about the Haymitch casting. Though it’s not clear who has been cast in the lead role,Lawrence confirms that casting is now well underway and that filming will begin this summer. Read Lawrence’s comments below:
We’re deep into casting and I leave on Sunday to go prep. We start shooting this July.
AfterThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakestook a new storytelling approach, Lawrence teases thatSunrise on the Reapingwill be a return to the franchise’s roots:
“As much as I love Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, this film is more of a return to form.”
What This Means For Sunrise On The Reaping
When Could Promotional Materials Release?
With filming set to start in July, it makes sense that the casting process is ongoing and potentially nearing its conclusion, at least for key roles. It’s likely that reports and official cast announcements will arrive over the next few months. After Harrelson played Haymitch across the four Katniss-focusedHunger Gamesmovies, this will be the character audiences most anticipate casting for, and, whoever is chosen, it could end up being a divisive decision. Franchise producer Nina Jacobson recently addressed the young Haymitch casting in an interview withVariety, revealing what they’re looking for in a star:
[…] What we’re looking for in that role is,you don’t want somebody who’s impersonating Woody, but you want somebody who very credibly feels like they could be a young version of this character, before the trauma and grief and rage that the fallout of the Games create.
Nobody can be Woody Harrelson but Woody Harrelson. But you have to find that mischief that he has in him inherently and attempt to understand, if you turn back time from the man you meet at the beginning of “The Hunger Games,” who he was before all of that, and why he became that.
A trailer forSunrise on the Reapingwon’t be arriving until next year given the film’s November release date, butLawrence and the movie’s cast members could provide first looks at characters, locations, and sets on social mediastarting in July. Social media plays a crucial role in the pre-trailer hype for a movie these days, especially when stars have large followings on social media.
Our Take On The Sunrise On The Reaping Update
Sunrise on the Reapingis still a long ways away, butthe massive success of Collins' novel suggests there is a great deal of anticipation surrounding the filmalready, even at this very early stage. Decisions, especially those regarding casting, are sure to be heavily scrutinized. This means there is likely a lot of pressure on Lawrence, but there is sure to be pressure on the younger actor who ends up being cast as Haymitch, too.
THRrecently revealed thatSunrise on the Reapingsold three times as many copies asMockingjayduring its first week of sales in the U.S., and twice as many asThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
How Old Is Haymitch During Sunrise On The Reaping Compared To The Hunger Games
Haymitch is 16 years old in Sunrise on the Reaping, 24 years before The Hunger Games, which creates another parallel between him and Katniss.
AfterBallad of Songbirds and Snakesreviewswere somewhat lukewarm from critics, the next movie marking a “return to form,” as Lawrence says, could be a promising sign. Despite a mixed reception, though, the prequel was a box office success, and it seems likely that audiences will show up for this new installment regardless of what reviews end up being like. For now, though, those looking for more of the franchise on the big screen have a while to wait asThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingapproaches production.
