The Hunger Games returns with Sunrise on the Reaping, and a key writer returns with it. Billy Ray, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Captain Phillips has officially been named to write the screenplay for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The upcoming film is based on Suzanne Collins’ newest bestselling novel, and is set for a theatrical release on November 20, 2026 under Lionsgate. The studio announced the news during their presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Collins’ latest bestseller, Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen enters the games. It follows her mentor Haymitch Abernathy during his turn in the 50th Hunger Games, and the Second Quarter Quell. The Quarter Quell Games have additional elements to make them more exciting. When Katniss participated, the pool of tributes was selected by the remaining victors of each district. For Haymitch, the amount of tributes was doubled, meaning four children from each district were selected instead of the normal two.

Ray knows his way around the world of Panem, as he was a writer on the very first Hunger Games film from 2012. In addition to Captain Phillips, he has written for the films Shattered Glass, Richard Jewell, and the upcoming Animals, which is currently in production with Ben Affleck directing. Ray joins veteran Hunger Games director, Francis Lawrence, who directed Catching Fire, both Mockingjay films, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The film will also be produced by Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, with Cameron MacConomy executive producing.

Lawrence also announced at CinemaCon that casting has just begun and the film will start production in July and that Sunrise on the Reaping is his favorite book in the series.