Sunrise on the Reaping: Everything to Know Before the 2026 Movie
June 3, 2026
Suzanne Collins returned to Panem with Sunrise on the Reaping, and the film adaptation lands in November 2026 with a remarkable cast including Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close and Jesse Plemons. Here is how it fits.
Where it sits in the timeline
Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before the original trilogy, during the Second Quarter Quell — the reaping that sent a young Haymitch Abernathy into the arena. If you have only seen the films, this is the backstory that reframes Haymitch entirely.
The full Panem reading order
There are now several ways to read the series — publication order or chronological. We break down both, including where the two prequels slot in, in the complete Hunger Games reading order.
In short, chronological order is:
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
- Sunrise on the Reaping
- The Hunger Games
- Catching Fire
- Mockingjay
What to read first
You do not need Sunrise on the Reaping to enjoy the original trilogy, but reading it before the film deepens every Haymitch scene. Finished Panem and want more? Try our list of what to read after The Hunger Games.
Why now
The 2023 Ballad film proved the prequels have huge box-office pull, and a Haymitch origin story is catnip for the fandom. Expect this to be one of 2026’s biggest YA adaptations.