Hunger Games prequel film confirms young Haymitch as main character

18 October 2024, 15:32 | Updated: 18 October 2024, 15:41

By Katie Louise Smith

Sunrise on the Reaping will take place 24 years before Katniss' story, and will focus on the 50th Hunger Games.

It's official – following the success of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, The Hunger Games franchise is getting a brand new prequel book and movie, titled Sunrise on the Reaping. If that weren't enough, it's now been confirmed that Haymitch Abernathy will be the central character.

In June, author Suzanne Collins announced that she will release the fifth book in the Hunger Games series on March 18th 2025. That will then be followed by a film adaptation, released on November 20th 2026.

Sunrise on the Reaping will begin with the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, set 24 years before Katniss' story begins, and 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Fans of the novels (and the films) will know that the 50th Hunger Games was the one that saw a young Haymitch emerge as the victor after beating 47 other tributes. Now, the Sunrise on the Reaping plot synopsis has been revealed along with the book's cover art.

• Read more: Who will play young Haymitch in Hunger Games prequel? The Mike Faist rumours explained
• Read more: House Of The Dragon's Tom Glynn-Carney responds to Haymitch Hunger Games rumours

Watch the trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

What is the Sunrise on the Reaping synopsis?

You can read the official Sunrise on the Reaping synopsis below:

Sunrise on the Reaping will revisit the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

As the day dawns on the 50th annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town.

As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight ... and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

The first official Haymitch quote from the book has also been revealed. It reads: "They will not use my tears for their entertainment."

Back in 2023, shortly after the film release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, fans began sharing the characters they'd love to see explored in further prequels. Coriolanus Snow's backstory – and history with Lucy Gray Baird – was explored so brilliantly in TBOSAS, it left fans desperate to see more.

Haymitch Abernathy (played by Woody Harrelson in the original film trilogy) has long been at the top of fans' wishlists when it comes to prequels. 16-year-old Haymitch was the victor in the 50th Hunger Games, which saw 48 tributes fight to the death instead of the usual 24. (Four tributes – two girls and two boys – from each district took part in the second Quarter Quell.)

At this point in the story, Coriolanus Snow has been president of Panem for a couple of decades. So anyone hoping to see glimpses of their beloved Coryo from TBOSAS... he no longer exists! He'll be in full tyrannical dictator mode now.

Speaking about the inspirations for the book, Suzanne said in a statement: "With ‘Sunrise on the Reaping,’ I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few.'"

"The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question 'Real or not real?' seems more pressing to me every day."

Shortly after the book news was announced, it was confirmed that a new Hunger Games film will be heading our way in 2026.

Sunrise on the Reaping will hit cinemas on November 20th 2026. No casting announcements have been made yet but people have fan-casted House of the Dragon's Tom Glynn Carney and Challengers' Mike Faist among other actors.

It's also possible that The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes' Tom Blyth could return as a much older President Snow.

Until then, everyone say: Thank you Suzanne Collins, and thank you Rachel Zegler!

Read more from Capital Buzz here:

• Sam Claflin says he wants to play Finnick's dad in Hunger Games prequel
• Hunger Games' Rachel Zegler sang live for every Lucy Gray singing scene
• Hunger Games fans spot huge easter egg in Snow's Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes costumes
• Here's how Hunger Games' Jason Schwartzman 'improvised' his scenes as Lucky Flickerman
• How does Katniss know 'The Hanging Tree' song? Hunger Games' Lucy Gray legacy explained

WATCH: Hunger Games' Rachel Zegler sends Tom Blyth hilarious Snow fan edits

Rachel Zegler & Tom Blyth Try To Name Every Hunger Games Tribute | The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

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