Suzanne Collins has had Hunger Games fans buzzing with excitement again, as her recent book in the franchise, Sunrise on the Reaping, was released in March. This new book follows Haymitch Abernathy, who is Katniss and Peeta’s mentor in the 74th and 75th games. Haymitch was played by Woody Harrelson in the film franchise alongside Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta.

Sunrise on the Reaping follows Haymitch as he participates in the 50th Hunger Games, aka the second quarter quell. The quarter quell adds special conditions for the games in honor of the anniversary. In Haymitch’s games, the number of tributes was doubled. Meaning each district sent four tributes instead of the usual two, resulting in a game of 48 tributes instead of 24.

What we know so far is that the film premieres in theaters on November 20, 2026. Production has not yet started, as they are still in early rounds of casting. However, over the last 24 hours, news of some of the castings has been announced. Joseph Zada has been cast as Haymitch. Zada will soon appear in another book adaptation from Prime Video, We Were Liars. The show is available on Prime Video this June, and he will play the character Johnny Sinclair.

Haymitch’s love interest, Lenore Dove Baird, will be played by Whitney Peak. Lenore Dove is a descendant of the Covey, the group of performers first introduced in the first Hunger Games prequel story, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The prequel’s songbird, Lucy Gray Baird, was a member of the Covey.

Another District 12 tribute, Maysilee Donner, will be played by McKenna Grace. Wyatt Callow and Louella McCoy are the other District 12 tributes who fought with Haymitch and Maysilee in the 50th games. No casting has been announced for them yet.

Other familiar characters include President Snow, played by the late Donald Sutherland in the originals and Tom Blythe in the prequel, Plutarch Heavensbee, played by the late Phillip Seymour-Hoffman, Effie Trinket, played by Elizabeth Banks, Beetee, played by Jeffery Wright, and Caesar Flickerman, played by Stanley Tucci.

The film will be helmed by Hunger Games veteran director, Francis Lawrence. He directed every film besides the first Hunger Games. Billy Ray is another returning member as a screenwriter.