A new trailer was released this week for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. This prequel to the original Hunger Games series, following a young Haymitch as he enters the arena, is scheduled for a November 20th release.

Synopsis –

From acclaimed director Francis Lawrence, THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING follows sixteen-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) from District 12, beginning on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Annual Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, the biggest Games yet with twice as many tributes. 

Set in the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, the story follows Haymitch into the arena, where he forms an unlikely alliance with fellow tribute Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace) and joins a coalition determined to challenge the Capitol’s control under President Snow (Ralph Fiennes). As the competition unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take down the Games from within the arena — setting in motion the rebellion that will change Panem forever.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel, THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING also stars Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. Produced by Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and Francis Lawrence. Screenplay by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie.

The success of The Hunger Games novel and movies has led to a number of planned spin-offs. The original movie hit a worldwide gross of some $700M, the sequel Catching Fire hit $865M, and then the following concluding movies dropped back down, but the series ended before diminishing returns really became an issue. 2023’s The first spin-off movie, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, halved that with only $360M worldwide, but that relative flop seemingly didn’t dampen Lionsgate’s appetite for more. Where that prequel movie only featured the future president Snow amongst its crossover characters, Sunrise on the Reaping brings the action closer to the original movie series. Set 24 years before Katniss entered the arena, along with Snow, we follow a young Haymitch, District 12’s representative introduced as mentor in The Hunger Games series, as well as younger versions of a number of original series characters. Lionsgate are probably hoping this closer proximity to the 2010’s movies will result in better box office numbers, and a rumoured flash forward featuring original characters Katniss and Peeta seems to be their insurance policy. 

You can see the new trailer below.

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