News

There’s a new Hunger Games movie in the works. This film will take place 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and 24 years before the original Hunger Games story. The story focuses on Panem during its 2nd Quarter Quell, starting on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games. In this film, viewers will see a young Haymitch Abernathy as one of the contestants.

Director 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, who created the Hunger Games series.

The cast includes several familiar faces and new stars. Ralph Fiennes will play President Snow, taking over the role from Donald Sutherland. Elle Fanning returns as Effie Trinket, and Mckenna Grace plays Maysilee Donner.

Other actors in the film include Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman,...

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,...

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence last played the fan-favorite characters Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen, respectively, in 2015’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 2. Seriously, where does the time go? Anyway, since then, The Hunger Games movie franchise has only expanded, spawning two prequels: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), which centers on a young President Snow before he rose to power, and now, Sunrise of the Reaping, which will follow a 16-year-old Haymitch as he prepares to fight in the second Quarter Quell. With a star-studded cast confirmed for Sunrise of the Reaping, which is set to hit theaters in November 2026, rumors of a certain Hunger Games alum returning to make a surprise cameo in the upcoming sequel have been circulating online for quite a while now. But could there be some truth to these rumors?...

With The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping set to hit theaters on November 20, 2026, fans have been buzzing about whether any familiar faces from the original franchise might return — especially Josh Hutcherson, who portrayed Peeta Mellark across all four films in the blockbuster YA adaptation. Now, Hutcherson is weighing in. Speaking to Brit + Co, the actor finally broke his silence about possibly returning to the world of Panem.

“That’d be cool. No, I know nothing in that world right now. Hunger Games is amazing, and I’ve loved it for many years and I will love it forever.”

While Hutcherson hasn’t been approached to appear in Sunrise on the Reaping, the door isn’t closed, especially considering Peeta and Katniss do make a brief appearance in the book. Suzanne Collins’ newest installment takes place 24 years before the 74th Hunger Games, focusing on a young Haymitch Abernathy during his deadly run through the arena.

With the next prequel in The Hunger Games franchise hitting theaters on Nov. 20, 2026, at least one familiar face is open to returning.

Josh Hutcherson, who originated the role of Peeta Mellark in the 2012 adaptation of Suzanne Collins‘ first novel in the YA series, recently addressed the possibility of reprising the role in Sunrise on the Reaping, which has been rounding out its cast in recent months.

“That’d be cool. No, I know nothing in that world right now,” Hutcherson clarified to Brit + Co. “Hunger Games is amazing, and I’ve loved it for many years and I will love it forever.”

Although the events of Sunrise on the Reaping are set 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, the book briefly features a grown Peeta and Katniss Everdeen (originated by Jennifer Lawrence) as Haymitch Abernathy (which Joseph Zada is set to take over from Woody Harrelson) recounts the...

When The Hunger Games franchise released its final entry, Mockingjay – Part 2, in 2015, it was difficult to see how the dystopian adventure series could continue after the story wrapped. However, a decade later, The Hunger Games keeps thriving.

With a prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, already out, and another prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, on the way, fans of the franchise had a lot to look forward to. But the feature films aren't the only new additions to the franchise, as The Hunger Games is officially becoming a stage play. In a new announcement on Instagram, The Hunger Games officially cast the new Katniss Everdeen: Mia Carragher for the upcoming play in London.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Hunger Games On Stage (@thehungergamesonstage)

The Hunger Games: On Stage is set to debut on West End later this year, and casting is already on the way.

Elle Fanning said Hunger Games fans are the reason she was cast as Effie Trinket in the upcoming prequel film.

During a recent interview with MTV, the actress chatted about her casting in Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping and taking the role over from Elizabeth Banks, who portrayed an older version of Effie in the franchise’s first four films.

“It was funny because I think fans made this happen in a way,” Fanning said. “The studio [Lionsgate] said they were getting kind of hounded online, like, ‘Elle needs to play Effie.’”

The A Complete Unknown star added that she’s especially excited to play Effie because she’s been “a huge fan” for some time.

“Effie has always been my favorite character,” she explained. “I think Elizabeth Banks brought so much — just even beyond those books — layers to that character. I love her, and I have got to talk to Elizabeth.

Iris Apatow and Edvin Ryding are officially heading to Panem. Lionsgate has announced that the two young stars will portray Capitol University students Proserpina and Vitus in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the upcoming prequel film entering production this summer. Their characters are assigned to the prep team for the District 12 Tributes — a duo whose journey will take center stage in the highly anticipated adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ latest novel. They join a loaded cast led by Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Jesse Plemons, Billy Porter, and Lili Taylor. Rising stars Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, and Ben Wang round out the Districts' new generation of players.

Previously announced supporting cast members include Laura Marcus as Silka, Percy Daggs IV as Ampert, Rada Rae as Wellie, Jhaleil Swaby as Panache, John Doeble as Buck, Alina Reid as Kerna, Salimou Thiam as Clayton,...

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has cast Katniss Everdeen’s parents.The upcoming prequel movie has added Scot Greenan and Grace Ackary as Burdock Everdeen and Asterid March, respectively - the father and mother of Jennifer Lawrence’s iconic heroine from the original Hunger Games films.It has also been announced that Melody Chikakane Brown and Jefferson White have joined The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as Hattie Meeney and Mr. McCoy, respectively. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will feature Joseph Zada in the lead role of Haymitch Abernathy - the character previously played by Woody Harrelson in the original tetralogy - while Whitney Peak has been cast as his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Maya Hawke will take on the role of Wiress, the former Hunger Games victor who now mentors the tributes of District 12, while Mckenna Grace will portray District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner. Jesse Plemons,...

Katniss Everdeen's parents have been cast in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The most recent Hunger Games book by Suzanne Collins follows Haymitch Abernathy during the Second Quarter Quell, which takes place 24 years before Katniss' first Games.

Most of the key characters have already been announced for theSunrise on the Reapingmovie cast, including Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier.

The Hunger Games now reveals that Scot Greenan has been cast as Burdock Everdeen and Grace Ackary as Asterid March. Burdock is Katniss' father and Asterid is Katniss' mother, with Sunrise on the Reaping being the first time when the names of Katniss' parents are stated. Haymitch and Burdock are close friends during their time in District 12.

The...

Stars: Whitney Peak, S. Epatha Merkerson, Finn Bennett, Golda Rosheuvel, Ben Bladon, Laken Giles | Written by Michael Tully, Elisa Victoria | Directed by Colin Tilley

Night Terror, also released under the title Eye for an Eye, is a visually polished but narratively predictable horror film from director Colin Tilley. At first glance, it appears to be another standard studio-backed thriller… teen protagonists, a traumatic backstory, a spooky locale, and a local legend that turns out to be terrifyingly real. Yet, buried beneath its familiar genre framework is a genuinely creepy and well-executed antagonist: the Sandman, a spectral figure who avenges the wronged and bullied.

The film centres on a young woman who relocates from New York to a remote part of Florida to live with her blind grandmother after the sudden death of her parents. The change in scenery brings with it not just emotional upheaval, but supernatural danger. Soon after settling in,...

Lionsgate has partnered with a long list of international distributors to release “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” to audiences around the globe.

The studio is set to release “Sunrise on the Reaping” in North America and the United Kingdom on Nov. 26, 2026, but it will reach broader audiences by way of partnerships across various territories. Lionsgate’s international distribution partners on the film include Leonine in Germany, Metropolitan Film in France, Notorious in Italy, Nordisk in Scandinavia, Belga in Benelux, Forum in Eastern Europe and Israel, Ascot Elite in Switzerland, Pris in Portugal, Empire Entertainment in South Africa, Spentzos in Greece, Bg Filmcilik in Turkey, Acme in the Baltics, Myndform in Iceland and Idc across Latin America. Negotiations for distribution in additional markets are still ongoing.

“Sunrise on the Reaping” will be the sixth film in Lionsgate’s “Hunger Game” franchise, which has collectively grossed $3.3 billion at the box office.

Lionsgate has locked in a host of independent international distribution partners for The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping, which begins filming this summer.

The sixth installment in the billion dollar franchise is due to be released from November 20, 2026.

Lionsgate will release the film in North America and the UK. International partners include Leonine (Germany), Metropolitan Film (France), Notorious (Italy), Nordisk (Scandinavia), Belga (Benelux), Forum, Ascot Elite (Switzerland), Pris (Portugal), Empire Entertainment (South Africa), Spentzos (Greece), Bg Filmcilik (Turkey), Acme (Baltics), Myndform (Iceland), and Idc (Latin America), a 50/50 joint venture with Lionsgate. Negotiations are ongoing in additional markets.

As we revealed in recent months, some of the asking prices were big here. There was also strong studio interest, including from Amazon and Sony. In the end, the project has stayed with the indies,...

It's been two years since Disney confirmed a third trip to Salem was in the works following the success of Hocus Pocus 2, yet the Sanderson Sisters' brooms remain grounded, according to Sarah Jessica Parker. During her appearance on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live on Sunday, the star provided a rare update on the witchy threequel when answering a viewer question from two London-based fans. The good news is that the film is still happening, with Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy likely to reprise their roles alongside her. However, there's been little movement since the initial announcement, meaning viewers won't be seeing the Sandersons again anytime soon.

"No more developments, other than we would like to do it," Parker said during the show. As far as where the film was in the development process, she reiterated that, "We would like to do it, and we've been having some conversations.

Newly released set photos from The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapinghint at the first look at the arena for the Second Quarter Quell. The upcoming film, based on Suzanne Collins' novel, will follow a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) as he fights for survival in one of the deadliest Hunger Games in Panem's history.

Set 24 years before Katniss' story and directed by franchise veteran Francis Lawrence, the Hunger Games prequel will star Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove, and McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner.

Recently, Spanish outlet La Nueva Españahas released new pictures from the Sunrise on the Reaping set in the Somiedo Natural Park in Asturias. The landscape is lush and green, filled with mountains and a large lake. There's film equipment and production vehicles stationed across the terrain, along...

Exclusive: Effective immediately, Ashton Fontana has joined The Initiative Group as an Executive Vice President.

The clients following her to Initiative include both established and emerging talent, including 3x Oscar winner Meryl Streep, with whom she has worked for 14 years, as well as 5x Emmy nominee Giancarlo Esposito, Emmy and DGA winner Reed Morano (The Handmaid’s Tale), Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler (West Side Story), Jasmin Savoy Brown (Yellowjackets), Tyriq Withers, Xolo Maridueña (Blue Beetle), Denée Benton (The Gilded Age), and Gabby Beans.

Fontana tells Deadline, “I am incredibly excited to step into this new chapter with The Initiative Group. This move represents an opportunity to bring my executive leadership to an innovative team, at a time when our industry is changing in bold and necessary ways. I am thrilled to be among colleagues who are adapting thoughtfully and approaching this moment with creativity.

Asturias se convierte en la arena de los Quincuagésimos Juegos del Hambre. © Lionsgate

Ya es oficial: el Parque Natural de Somiedo, en pleno corazón de Asturias, será uno de los enclaves de rodaje de Los juegos del hambre: Amanecer en la cosecha. Y no es para menos. Con sus frondosos bosques y su lago rodeado de imponentes montañas, el paisaje parece hecho a medida para recrear la estética de las arenas vistas en anteriores entregas de la saga basada en las novelas de Suzanne Collins.

Pero, ojo, no será el único paraje asturiano que sirva de escenario para la película. La vecina Teverga también formará parte del itinerario de rodaje, concretamente el Hayedo de Montegrande, próximo al puerto de Ventana, considerado uno de los pulmones verdes más espectaculares del suroccidente asturiano.

Y es que, según ha adelantado el diario La Nueva España, la superproducción internacional de Lionsgate ha iniciado...

When auditioning for the role of a younger Haymitch in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel film, Sunrise on the Reaping, Joseph Zada had some competition.

In an interview with People magazine, Zada’s We Were Liars costar Emily Alyn Lind recalled talking to him when he was auditioning for the coveted role.

“So, I was FaceTiming him because he was like, ‘I’m in L.A.’ And I’m like, ‘What are you doing in L.A., loser? Let’s hang out,’ ” Emily Alyn Lind said. “And I FaceTime him and he is at this hotel and he’s being Joe. And he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m out here. You can’t tell anyone but it’s down to me and a couple [other] people for this Hunger Games thing.’”

“And I was like, ‘Oh, no fucking way. That’s so sick,’ ” Lind added. “And he’s naming names that...

Suzanne Collins gave her readers a huge gift in returning to the world of The Hunger Games series, the first three books of which she wrote in 2008, 2009 and 2010, for the prequel story of one Haymitch Abernathy.

Haymitch, portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the quartet of films based on Collins’ original book trilogy, was Katniss Everdeen’s (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark’s (Josh Hutcherson) mentor for their two Hunger Games — the 74th and 75th.

For everything we know about the film adaptation of Hunger Game: Sunrise on the Reaping, read on:

When does the The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping film come out?

The film will arrive in theaters November 20, 2026.

Has the Sunrise on the Reaping film started production yet?

The film is still in early rounds of casting.

Who will play Haymitch Abernathy in The Sunrise on the Reaping movie?

Joseph Zada has been cast in the main...

Grieving teenager Anna’s escape to her grandmother’s Florida home becomes a descent into horror in the new trailer for Night Terror, which arrives on digital platforms on 14 July from Signature Entertainment. After her parents’ sudden death, Anna leaves New York in search of solace, only to find herself drawn into a malicious supernatural force born from guilt and violence.

Isolated and longing for connection, Anna befriends two local teens whose boredom leads to a brutal prank. Their act of cruelty triggers the wrath of Mr Sandman, the restless spirit of a child who preys upon schoolyard bullies. By night, he invades dreams; by dawn, he devours his victims’ eyes. To save herself, Anna must confront the unforgivable deed that summoned this entity and break the curse before she too becomes a ghastly feast.

The trailer for Night Terror hones in on the film’s potent mix of psychological dread and visceral horror.

Tragedy sends teen Anna from Brooklyn into the humid, heavy air of a small Florida town. Her new home is with her grandmother, May, a woman who navigates the old house from memory, having been blind for decades. The isolation is immediate and palpable.

The bayou itself, with its hanging branches and thick stillness, seems to hold secrets. A sense of place is a difficult thing for a film to earn, but here, the Southern Gothic atmosphere is not just window dressing; it is an active presence.

Anna’s grief makes her an outsider, a ghost in her own new life, drifting through a community where local folklore feels less like history and more like a waiting threat. The air is thick with things unsaid, both in the family home and in the town itself.

The Rules of Retribution

The town’s threatening folklore has a name: Mr. Sandman. This...

A new crop of tributes are entering the arena. Laura Marcus, Percy Daggs IV, Rada Rae and Jhaleil Swaby have joined the cast of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping.”

They join previously announced ensemble members Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, McKenna Grace, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, Jesse Plemons, Billy Porter, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang and Joseph Zada.

Laura Marcus stars as Silka, the career tribute from District 1. Later in 2025, Marcus will star in Netflix’s “Death By Lighting” as former U.S. president James Garfield’s daughter Mollie Garfield. She can currently be seen in the Hulu/Disney+ series “Andor” as Beela. Marcus previously starred as Elisabeth in “The Serpent Queen” for Starz, Jinx in BBC’s “Bad Education”, BBC’s “The Jetty” as Caitlin, Amazon Studios “The Devil’s Hour”, and her film starring roles include “The Great Escaper.”

Daggs...

What if one day you find you cannot wake up from your nightmare? You remind yourself that ‘this is just a dream,’ but somehow the dream feels more palpable than reality. Colin Tilley’s feature debut film, Eye for an Eye, starring Whitney Peak, is a hypnotic, loopy trip. The gory, lucid visuals will drag you into a world you don’t want to belong to. The eeriness will keep you on your toes; the deeper you go into this scary rabbit hole, the more the branching tendrils will get a hold of you, and you’re exposed to the monster lying underneath all the madness. I have to admit the premise didn’t impress me at first; childish lore about a monster/entity punishing bullies is a familiar horror trope, but as the film progressed, I figured I was in for a visual treat.

Anna moved into her grandma...

Although we’ve seen plenty of adaptations of mainstream comics, we see far fewer of indie comics. Yet, there is an untapped well of creative potential in the plethora of options. Based on Elisa Victoria’s graphic novel Mr. Sandman, the horror flick Eye for an Eye has an interesting concept and visual style to spare but struggles to find its identity.

Eye for an Eye Review

Adapting Victoria’s graphic novel, Victoria and co-writer Michael Tully pen the screenplay following a young woman who returns to live with her grandmother after the death of her parents. However, after she witnesses a grisly act of violence, she finds herself facing a sinister threat deeply entrenched in the local community’s lore.

Ultimately, the biggest issue of Eye for an Eye is that its script can’t seem to decide what side of the horror genre it wishes to fall on.

Ahead of the Eye For An Eye's theatrical and on-demand release on June 20th, we have an exclusive "Lucid Dreaming" clip just for Daily Dead readers! The film is the feature debut from acclaimed music video director Colin Tilley, and stars Whitney Peak, S. Epatha Merkerson, Golda Rosheuvel, and Finn Bennett:

"Anna (Whitney Peak), grieving the sudden death of her parents, relocates from New York to a small Florida town to live with the grandmother (S. Epatha Merkerson) she’s never met. Isolated and in unfamiliar surroundings, she falls in with a couple of local teens (Finn Bennett and Laken Giles), but when she becomes a bystander to an unforgivable act of violence, she finds herself ensnared by Mr. Sandman – the twisted soul of a tormented child who haunts bullies’ dreams before feasting on their eyeballs when they finally wake."

Directed by: Colin Tilley Written by: Elisa Victoria and Michael Tully Staring: Whitney Peak,...

Lionsgate has tapped Canadian actor-dancer Jhaleil Swaby to play Panache Barker, a ruthless District 1 career tribute, in “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” the prequel that starts lensing in July under returning director Francis Lawrence. The studio’s latest casting move arrives weeks before production begins and ahead of the film’s planned 20 November 2026 theatrical launch.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ March 18 novel—which moved 1.5 million copies in its first week—the movie revisits the 50th Hunger Games, or Second Quarter Quell, set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteers in District 12. Oscar-nominated screenwriter Billy Ray returns alongside producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson to maintain franchise continuity.

Swaby joins a roster led by Australian newcomer Joseph Zada as a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, with Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove, Maya Hawke and Lili Taylor as past victors Wiress and Mags, and Ralph Fiennes reprising President Snow

. Veteran heavyweights Glenn Close and Billy Porter...

Exclusive: Jhaleil Swaby (The Lake) has been cast in Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as Panache, a crude and aggressive career tribute from District 1, known for his arrogance and ruthlessness, sources confirm to Deadline. The film is set to premiere on November 20, 2026.

Based on the bestselling novel by Suzanne Collins, the latest installment of the Hunger Games dystopian YA franchise revisits 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. The story centers on 16-year-old Haymitch (Joseph Zada), a clever and resourceful boy from District 12, who’s unexpectedly chosen for this edition of the games, featuring a deadly twist: twice the number of tributes, with 48 children sent into the arena to battle for their lives.

In addition to Zada, the previously announced cast includes...

‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ title art (Photo Credit: Lionsgate)

Three-time Tony Award winner Billy Porter and eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close are the latest stars to sign on to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Lionsgate announced Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes. Porter is on board as Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer.

“Glenn Close is a dream Drusilla. She brings so much of her intellect and imagination to each role, creating characters who are unforgettable and iconic. I think Glenn and Francis [Lawrence] will have a ball bringing Drusilla from the page to the screen,” stated producer Nina Jacobson.

Jacobson had this to say about Billy Porter’s casting: “Billy is one of those rare performers who can dazzle and devastate in equal measure on stage and screen. He made an indelible impression on me...

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have been cast in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.The Fatal Attraction actress has signed up to play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the tributes of District 12, while the Pose star will play her estranged husband Magno Stift, who serves as the contestants' uninspired designer.News of their casting was confirmed during Lionsgate's presentation at CineEurope.It follows the recent news that Succession actor Kieran Culkin will appear in the film as Caesar Flickerman - the character first played by Stanley Tucci in the original ‘Hunger Games’ films.Joseph Zada will lead the flick as Haymitch Abernathy - previously portrayed by Woody Harrelson - with Whitney Peak set to portray his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Meanwhile, Maya Hawke will play Wiress - the former Hunger Games champion who now serves as a mentor for those in District 12 - while Mckenna Grace...

The Hunger Games franchise is getting full. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the sixth installment in the overall Hunger Games film franchise and the second prequel, is in development at Lionsgate, with a fall 2026 premiere slated.

Sunrise on the Reaping is based on a dystopian young adult novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, published in March 2025. It became the fastest-selling title in the Hunger Games book series so far, selling more than 1.5 million copies in its first week. The film adaptation was already in the works when the novel was released. Still, with the publication of the novel, the pace of movie development has accelerated, and news about it is emerging at a steady clip.

Here’s what we know so far about The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

What is Sunrise on the Reaping about?

Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games.

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have joined the star-studded cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' bestselling novel of the same name. The ensemble has been growing at a rapid rate, as the prequel continues to introduce more characters from the page to the screen, and now there are two more in the mix. Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter stars as Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes' uninspired designer.

Throughout her storied acting career on stage and screen, Close, an eight-time Oscar nominee, has become known for portraying iconic villains and complex characters who demand authority, particularly Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction and Cruella de Vil in Disney's live-action remake of 101 Dalmatians, which should serve her well in bringing Drusilla to life, as she is just as mean-spirited and twisted as the others.

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have nabbed roles in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter snagged the role of Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer. Close has earlier movies credits like Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs, The Wife and 101 Dalmatians.

Veteran stage actor Porter earned a Tony Award and a Grammy Award for Kinky Boots, and Tony Awards for his production of the best musical winner A Strange Loop. Francis Lawrence directs the movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel that will hit theaters Nov. 20, 2026.

Cast members earlier announced include Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin. Lawrence will direct the latest Hunger Games installment from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray.

Additional casting has been announced for the upcoming next installment in the Hunger Games film series, titled Sunrise on the Reaping. The cast will now include stage and screen icons Billy Porter and Glenn Close. Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, and Porter is Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes' designer. The duo join the previously announced cast of Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin. Francis Lawrence directs the adaptation of the book by Suzanne Collins. Sunrise on the Reaping is the second prequel to the original The Hunger Games trilogy, following The Ballad of Songbirds...

The production of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is building an even bigger all-star cast list. Lionsgate is now announcing that Glenn Close has been cast as Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, and three-time Tony Award winner Billy Porter has been cast as Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer.

On Close joining the cast, Producer Nina Jacobson said, “Glenn Close is a dream Drusilla. She brings so much of her intellect and imagination to each role, creating characters who are unforgettable and iconic. I think Glenn and Francis will have a ball bringing Drusilla from the page to the screen.”

Jacobson continued to glow with the casting of Porter, “Billy is one of those rare performers who can dazzle and devastate in equal measure on stage and screen. He made an indelible impression on me when we worked together on Pose,...

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have joined the sprawling cast of “Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.”

Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter will portray Magno Stift, her estranged husband and designer to the Tributes. They’ll joined the previously announced ensemble of Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, “Sunrise on the Reaping” will revisit the world of Panem nearly a quarter of a century before the events of the original “Hunger Games” saga. It starts on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, in which Haymitch Abernathy enters the deadly arena. In 2012’s “Hunger Games,” Haymitch serves as a mentor to Jennifer Lawrence...

The latest “Hunger Games” movie has expanded its cast with two awards show heavy hitters. Glenn Close and Billy Porter have been added to “Sunrise on the Reaping” to play Drusilla Sickle and Magno Stift, respectively.

They will join previously announced cast members Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin. The prequel movie about the 50th Hunger Games is set to be released on Nov. 20, 2026.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ fifth book in the series, “Sunrise on the Reaping” is set 24 years before the events of the original trilogy. This story starts off during the morning of the 2nd Quarter Quell, meaning 48 children will compete in the game to the death instead of the usual 24. Katniss and Peeta’s mentor Haymitch Abernathy (played by Woody Harrelson in the original trilogy and by Joseph Zada...

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have officially joined the cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ latest Hunger Games novel. Lionsgate announced the casting today, confirming Close as Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort of District 12 Tributes, and Porter as Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the disillusioned designer assigned to the doomed pair.

The pair join an already unbelievable ensemble cast, which includes Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, and Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman. Producer Nina Jacobson praised the latest additions, saying:

“Glenn Close is a dream Drusilla. She brings so much of her intellect and imagination to each role,...

Exclusive: Eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close and three-time Tony winner Billy Porter are the latest additions to the cast of Lionsgate’s anticipated The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

Close will play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter is Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer.

Close and Porter join Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin in the Francis Lawrence-directed adaptation of the bestselling book by Suzanne Collins.

The casting news was made official during Lionsgate’s presentation here at CineEurope.

Sunrise on the Reaping will be released on November 20, 2026. Lawrence is directing from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray. Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will produce. Cameron MacConomy will executive produce. The five films in the franchise have...

A while back, author Elisa Victoria wrote Mr. Sandman, “a horror adult picture book about a dream monster” that is available for purchase through her website. Now, Victoria has teamed up with Michael Tully, the writer/director of the comedy Ping Pong Summer and the horror thriller Don’t Leave Home, to adapt the story of Mr. Sandman into the screenplay for a horror movie called Eye for an Eye, which stars Whitney Peak (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and is set to receive a theatrical and VOD release next Friday, June 20th. In anticipation of that release date, the film’s trailer has made its way online and can now be seen in the embed above.

Prolific music video director Colin Tilley, who has worked with the likes of Justin Bieber, Wiz Khalifa, Jason Derulo, Nicki Minaj, Tyga, Zendaya, Kelly Rowland, Enrique Iglesias, Kendrick Lamar, Chris Brown, Rita Ora, Nick Jonas,...

Rising young actor Joseph Zada has finally broken his silence regarding his major casting in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. In the prequel, the Australian star will be playing the leading role of a young Haymitch Abernathy, a fan-favorite character originally played by Woody Harrelson in the blockbuster franchise.

During an interview with Deadline, Zada opened up about the highly-anticipated Hunger Games prequel, confirming that he has already read the scripts. “I've seen scripts. I can't say anything, [...] I've read the book twice already. [...] I'm a very, very, very big fan of everything to do with it and the whole cast and everyone involved. I'm so ridiculously nervous," he said. This marks Zada’s first high-profile movie project, after previously starring in Australian shows like Total Control and Invincible Boys. The young actor will next be seen in the upcoming Prime Video thriller series We Were Liars with Emily Alyn Lind.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is the highly anticipated movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins' 2025 prequel novel to the iconic Hunger Games trilogy, and the lead actor has expressed excitement and apprehension as the beginning of production draws closer. The Hunger Games was arguably the biggest property in the world in the early 2010s, fizzling out by 2015. We Were Liars'Joseph Zada is playing 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy in the prequel; Haymitch acts as a mentor to Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games movies, in which he is played by Woody Harrelson.

While Sunrise on the Reaping's cast continues to grow, Joseph Zada reportedly said that he is a "big fan" of the Hunger Games series and the work being done to adapt this installment, but is also "ridiculously nervous" about his part (via Deadline). Check out his comments below, from press coverage of We Were Liars:

I've seen scripts.

Chanel is hosting another big event during the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival!

The fashion brand hosted the Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner on Monday night (June 9) held at The Odeon in New York City.

Stars in attendance included Lily James, Joe Jonas, Lucy Liu, and Jon Hamm.

The event was held to honor a curation of vibrant visual artists who have contributed original artwork to the award-winning filmmakers of the 2025 Tribeca Festival filmmaker winners. The Artist Awards Program recognizes the intersection between creative fields and celebrates New York City’s enduring spirit of cultural innovation.

Following the event, we compiled photos of the stars in attendance so that you can see who was there!

Keep reading to find out more…Keep scrolling to see the stars in attendance…

Alisha Boe

Allison Janney

Blake Lively

Celine Song & Justin Kuritzkes

Chase Sui Wonders

Christy Turlington

Cooper Hoffman

Derek Blasberg

Drena De Niro

Ella Rubin...

"Remembering you're dreaming..." Vertical has revealed the official trailer for Eye for an Eye, a horror thriller set in Florida marking the feature directorial debut of acclaimed music video director Colin Tilley. Not to be confused with any other film also titled Eye for an Eye, such as the 1996 thriller movie with Kiefer Sutherland & Sally Field. This is the story of Anna who grieves the death of her parents as she moves from New York to Florida to stay with her grandmother. She falls in with some other teens, but when she sees a grisly act of violence, she ends up even more traumatized. She finds herself ensnared by Mr. Sandman – the twisted soul of a tormented child who haunts bullies' dreams before feasting on their eyeballs. Uhhh whoa, Wtf. Staring Whitney Peak, S. Epatha Merkerson, Golda Rosheuvel, and Finn Bennett. This looks like it has tons of creepy imagery,...

Kieran Culkin was one of the fan favorites to star in the upcoming Hunger Games movie Sunrise on the Reaping. After it was announced that he was cast to play Caesar Flickerman, previously played by Stanley Tucci, fans were excited to see how he would pull off this iconic minor character in this YA Dystopian franchise. But, according to the actor, he's asking fans to lower their expectations.

The actor's comments were shown in a TikTok video by @lielbernis, where he signed autographs in New York. After being told he would be an amazing Caesar, he asked to "lower those expectations," hinting that he might be aware of the fan reactions following the casting announcement and that he didn't want to disappoint anyone.

"Lower those expectations, please. Please do. I have no idea what I'm gonna do with that."

Like in the main trilogy, Caesar Flickerman is the Master of Ceremonies for The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping star Whitney Peak reveals that she talked to franchise alum, Rachel Zegler, after being cast. The upcoming movie, an adaptation of Suzanne Collins' prequel novel, began announcing cast members, including Joseph Zada and Mckenna Grace, as early as April. Directed by Francis Lawrence — who worked on all but one Hunger Games entry — the 2026 film will depict a young Haymitch Abernathy and his experience competing in the devastating annual event.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Peak noted that joining Sunrise on the Reaping was a"warm welcome" and that she was feeling grateful. Peak also revealed that she is "trying not to get too overwhelmed" about the upcoming production and that The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes star, Rachel Zegler, communicated with her and shared encouragement. She added that going into the audition, she was unsure about the outcome,...

Kieran Culkin says he has “no idea what I’m gonna do with that” and advises “lower those expectations” when fans ask about his newly announced turn as Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The off-hand warning, delivered outside the Broadway revival of Glengarry Glen Ross, arrives less than a fortnight after Lionsgate confirmed the Succession Emmy-winner will host Panem’s grisly spectacle in the 2026 prequel film.

Collins’ novel of the same name was published on 18 March 2025 with an English-language first printing of 2.5 million copies and translations in 25 territories. Set during the 50th Hunger Games, it follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy—future mentor to Katniss Everdeen—decades before the original trilogy. Lionsgate has staked out 20 November 2026 for the film’s release, with long-time franchise steward Francis Lawrence back in the director’s chair from a screenplay by Billy Ray and producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.

Casting...

The stars are stepping out for the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival!

Miley Cyrus, and her mom Tish Cyrus, joined Mariska Hargitay, Riley Keough, and more stars at Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program luncheon on Friday afternoon (June 6) held at The Greenwich Hotel Courtyard in New York City.

Founded by Tribeca and Chanel in 2015, the mentorship program provides industry support, artistic development, and funding to emerging U.S.-based self-identifying women and non-binary filmmakers.

“Storytelling is a profound responsibility … and I’ve realized, actually, the most powerful thing that I can do is what I’ve been trained to do my life, which is to tell a story,” Through Her Lens Advisory Committee member Patty Jenkins said during the luncheon.

Following the event, we compiled photos of the stars so you can see who was there!

Keep reading to find out more…Keep scrolling to see the stars in attendance…...

When actress Mira Sorvino thinks about what and who helped her launch her career, she credits Tribeca Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal for giving her that break.

“Jane Rosenthal actually gave me my first job in the industry. It started off being a volunteer position — I was an intern at Tribeca Productions, reading scripts. Then it turned into a paid position as a reader after they ended up liking my coverage. I did that for two years, and during that time I actually read the script Amongst Friends that ended up being the first feature that I ever starred in. We went to Sundance and that launched my career,” the actress recalled. “Tribeca helped me start my career, and it’s always given a hand up to young artists and people who had the gumption to just go for it.”

So supporting the 10th anniversary of the Through Her Lens — a...

Tribeca Film Festival co-founder and recent Variety cover star Jane Rosenthal hosted the annual Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program luncheon with the legacy fashion house on June 6.

Miley Cyrus attended just hours before her world premiere of “Something Beautiful,” The project places the pop-music icon in the director’s chair along with Jacob Bixenman and Brendan Walter.

“Throughout my career, my story has been told from so many lenses outside of myself and from so many perspectives outside of myself. I’ve been shot by so many photographers and directors and never been able to actually get behind the lens and see myself in the way that I do,” Cyrus told Variety on the carpet. “That’s something that makes it feel like really special and really intimate because I’ve never really gotten to actually tell my story in a way that really is this first person.

Whitney Peak is opening up about her newly announced starring role in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping novel was released this spring and revisits 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 when a younger Haymitch (portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original films) competes. Joseph Zada is starring as Haymitch while Peak will play Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird, in the project, which is set to hit theaters in November 2026.

At the Chanel Tribeca Festival Women’s Luncheon in NYC on Friday, Peak told The Hollywood Reporter that the last six weeks or so since her casting was announced have “been a really warm welcome. Everything happened really quickly, but it is very much led by a lot of incredible women, and I do...