Hunger Games Movie Based On Book That's Not Even Out Yet Is Coming In 2026

In 2023, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes adapted Suzanne Collins' prequel novel, which was set decades before the original books and films. Now that Collins has revealed that her next book in the franchise will arrive in 2025, Lionsgate has quickly announced that the film adaptation of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will arrive in 2026.

Sunrise on the Reaping will take place 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes during the events of the 50th Hunger Games, which are also called the Second Quarter Quell. This follows Collins' tradition of focusing on the winners from District 12. Haymitch Abernathy, who was played by Woody Harrelson in the first four movies, was the victor of the Second Quarter Quell. Haymitch's win came 24 years before he mentored Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark to their unprecedented co-victory at the 74th Hunger Games. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' Lucy Gray Baird is the only other winner from District 12 who we know about.

"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," said Lionsgate's Adam Fogelson via The Hollywood Reporter. "Like fans around the globe, we are eagerly anticipating this exciting return to Panem."

Francis Lawrence, who has directed every Hunger Games movie except the first one, is in negotiations to helm the new film. Sunrise on the Reaping will be published by Scholastic on March 18, 2025. The movie adaptation will follow on November 20, 2026.