May the odds be barely in anyone’s favor. Lionsgate has officially ignited fan frenzy with the first teaser for Sunrise on the Reaping, the highly anticipated adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ latest novel and an origin story set to become the franchise’s darkest entry yet. Arriving less than a year after the book’s release, the film flings audiences into one of Panem’s most traumatic chapters: the rise and unraveling of Haymitch Abernathy.
Long immortalized by Woody Harrelson in the original trilogy, Haymitch’s younger self is now portrayed by Joseph Zada (of We Were Liars fame). And based on the new teaser, Zada is stepping into the role with a raw emotional weight that promises to devastate longtime fans.
A Prequel Fans Have Been Begging For
Set decades before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, Sunrise on the Reaping chronicles the infamous 50th Hunger Games — the Quarter Quell where the number of tributes doubled. In the original books, Haymitch only hinted at the horrors he endured. Now, those shadows take center stage.
Beginning as a hopeful, selfless teenager trying to protect his mother and younger brother, Haymitch is thrust into a spectacle engineered for maximum tragedy. The new teaser wastes no time reminding viewers that his path to victory was paved in trauma.
A District 12 We Barely Recognize
The trailer opens in familiar territory: District 12. But there’s a chilling twist — Glenn Close, unrecognizable and mesmerizing, makes her debut as the Capitol’s newest escort, Drusilla, a haunting echo of Effie Trinket’s perky flamboyance. Her icy welcome sets the tone: pomp, circumstance, and cruelty polished to perfection.
From there, the teaser falls nearly silent. Which was a creative choice that amplified every frame. Tributes stand in a bright, almost surreal meadow, garden paths weaving toward the Cornucopia in a scene reminiscent of Midsommar. Beauty becomes a weapon, masking the brutality to come.
A Deadly Arena Like Nothing We’ve Seen
Gone are the dense forests and camouflaged traps of Katniss’ Games. The 50th arena is wide open, vibrant, and deceptively serene. The kind of place where death can arrive from any direction.
The trailer lingers on the youngest tributes, some no older than children. Their innocence makes the stakes unbearable. Zada’s piercing blue eyes brim with dread and determination as he nods to a frightened young girl. Serving as a fleeting moment that captures the soul of Haymitch’s legacy.
Silent but electric, the teaser cuts to the moment the gong sounds. Haymitch sprints toward the Cornucopia with the others, launching a battle that viewers already know will cost him far more than physical scars.
A Star-Studded Cast And A Heartbreaking Story
Fans also get quick glimpses of Elle Fanning and Mckenna Grace as pivotal characters, including the beloved Maysilee Donner, whose fate remains one of the franchise’s most wrenching tragedies.
And just when the tension peaks, the trailer delivers its final blow: Woody Harrelson’s iconic line from Catching Fire: “I think these Games are gonna be different”. This time, the words hit like a warning.
Prepare For The Pain
With Sunrise on the Reaping, Lionsgate isn’t just revisiting Panem. In fact, it’s enriching the lore with a story audiences have waited over a decade to see on screen. Haymitch’s Games are not just a background footnote; they’re a defining piece of the franchise’s moral architecture.
Visually haunting, emotionally intense, and beautifully shot, the teaser makes one thing known. This is the prequel that will break us. Sunrise on the Reaping is set to hit theaters November 20th, 2026. So the countdown to the 50th Hunger Games officially begins.