Las Vegas, April 10, 2026—Fans of the dystopian series are going crazy after Lionsgate released the first trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping at CinemaCon 2026. Set 24 years before the original trilogy, this prequel to The Hunger Games promises to take us deeper into the dark world of Panem with new visuals that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.
Francis Lawrence, who directed the hit movies Catching Fire and Mockingjay, is in charge of the movie. Joe Keery portrays young Haymitch Abernathy, joined by rising stars Drew Starkey and Zoë Renee. The teaser trailer, shown exclusively to exhibitors, opens with eerie shots of a shattered District 12. It shows Haymitch’s unwilling entry into the brutal 50th Hunger Games, which is the Second Quarter Quell.
Some of the most exciting parts of the footage are the intense training montages, the tense Capitol glamour, and the raw arena scene, which brings back the high-stakes survival thrills of the franchise. The story is based on Suzanne Collins’ book that came out last year. It has themes of propaganda, rebellion, and Haymitch’s sad backstory. Producers say the movie will come out on November 20, 2026, making it a strong contender for the fall box office.
This news brings back the excitement for the Hunger Games world, which has made more than $3 billion around the world. With amazing CGI bringing Panem’s wealth and grit to life, Sunrise on the Reaping could be the most popular search term for the Hunger Games prequel trailer, Haymitch’s origin story, and CinemaCon 2026 highlights.
