The New ‘Hunger Games’ Book Is Already Being Turned Into a Movie — and It Has a Release Date
Brian Welk
Bright and early this morning, the AP reported that Suzanne Collins was at work on a new “Hunger Games” novel, “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.” And sure enough, Lionsgate is already at work on turning that book into another new “Hunger Games” movie. The film adaptation already has a theatrical-release date.
The big-screen version of “Sunrise on the Reaping” will be released by Lionsgate on November 20, 2026, after Collins’ book publishes from Scholastic on March 18, 2025.
And the whole crew is back to shepherd this new “Hunger Games” movie, including franchise producer Nina Jacobson and her partner Brad Simpson for their Color Force banner. Francis Lawrence, who has directed each film since “Catching Fire,” is in talks to return to this one as well. No cast has been announced.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” visits Panem during the 50th Hunger Games — that’s 24 years before the events of the original trilogy of books — and about 40 years after the events of the most recent film from last year, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”
Plot details haven’t been revealed, but fans of the franchise will know the lore that the 50th Hunger Games was known as the “Second Quarter Quell.” In those games, the districts had to submit twice as many tributes as usual, so four children instead of just two. The winner of those games (spoiler) was Haymitch Abernathy from District 12, who as an adult is played by Woody Harrelson in the original trilogy of films.
“Suzanne Collins is a master storyteller and our creative north star,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more fortunate than to be guided and trusted by a collaborator whose talent and imagination are so consistently brilliant. We know ‘Hunger Games’ fans worldwide will be spellbound by where Suzanne has focused this next extraordinary story. The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later. Like fans around the globe, we are eagerly anticipating this exciting return to Panem.”
“From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026,” Collins said.
Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien will oversee the production on behalf of the studio. Patricia Laucella and Phil Strina oversaw the rights for the book for Lionsgate. Collins is represented by Jason Dravis from The Dravis Agency and Diane Golden and Sarah Lerner from the law firm Katz Golden Lerner LLP.
“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” starred Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, and Peter Dinklage, and the film grossed $337 million worldwide — well below what the original films made, but still a strong showing for a prequel film.
