First Look at Joseph Zada on the Set of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Revealed
Lionsgate has officially confirmed plans to bring a new Hunger Games movie to the big screen. This film will take place 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and 24 years before the original Hunger Games story.
It will focus on Panem during its 2nd Quarter Quell, starting on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games. Fans will get to see a young Haymitch Abernathy as one of the participants.
Francis Lawrence will direct the movie, which is set to be released on November 20, 2026. The screenplay will be written by Billy Ray and Suzanne Collins, the creator of the Hunger Games series.
The cast includes some well-known names. Ralph Fiennes will take on the role of President Snow, replacing Donald Sutherland who played the character in previous films. Elle Fanning returns as Effie Trinket, and Mckenna Grace will play Maysilee Donner.
Other actors joining the project include Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, and Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy. Joseph Zada was recently seen behind the scenes, giving fans a first look at the making of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
First look at Joseph Zada behind the scenes of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’.
— Screen Rant (@screenrant) August 6, 2025
Are you excited? 💭 pic.twitter.com/F7J8kksQ0f
Several other actors round out the cast, such as Maya Hawke as Wiress, Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, and Edvin Ryding as Vitus.
The film will also feature Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Jefferson White, Iris Apatow, Whitney Peak, Kara Tointon, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Molly McCann, Laura Marcus, and Silka Sharp in various roles.
Even though the movie was planned before the prequel book was released, director Francis Lawrence was already familiar with the story. He saw a manuscript of the novel in the summer of 2024, but filming did not start until after the book’s release in March 2025. Production is expected to begin in July.
Ralph Fiennes shared his thoughts about stepping into the role of President Snow. “Obviously big shoes to sort of stand alongside of, but he brought wonderful complexity to that part and I’m playing a slightly younger version of him. I am challenged but excited. I’m looking forward to it… I’m not going to try and be Donald Sutherland, because no one can be him. But I think the character he created is very complex… The complexity of that psychology, I hope I can echo in some way.”
This new Hunger Games film promises to explore a different part of Panem’s history and dive deeper into the world fans already love. With a strong cast and an experienced director, it looks like The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be a major hit when it arrives in theaters in late 2026.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
