The new Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, will be out soon on November 20, 2026, and the early reviews for the film have been overwhelmingly positive. Set 24 years before the first film, the movie follows Haymitch, the character played by Woody Harrelson, as he participates in the Quarter Quell, a particularly brutal round of the games.
This is the second prequel to be released in the franchise after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Early reactions to the movie have even compared the film to Rogue One and Andor, two of the best Star Wars IPs to come out recently. With these reactions and Jennifer Lawrence confirmed to appear in a cameo as Katniss Everdeen, the prequel is sure to be a hit.
Early Reactions to Hunger Games Prequel Gave the Best Comparison
The Hunger Games franchise came at the peak of the Young Adult fantasy fiction boom of the 2010s. Based on the novels by Suzanne Collins, the films were set in a Dystopian society where the nation is divided into multiple Districts. Each year, the Districts have to send tributes to participate in the Hunger Games, a spectacle where the tributes hunt each other to the death.
While Jennifer Lawrence played the lead, Katniss Everdeen, the fantasy series had many other supporting characters who were memorable. One of them was Haymitch, played by Woody Harrelson. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping follows Haymitch as he participates in the Quarter Quell, a deadlier edition of the Games marking their 50th year.
#TheHungerGames Sunrise on the Reaping is the Rogue One/Andor of the franchise. A sobering, yet powerful story of devastating loss and the necessary cost of rebellion for a sunrise we may never see. As a massive fan of the series and especially this book, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect adaptation. Francis Lawrence beautifully captures the invigorating spark of revolution and the tragedy of Haymitch’s journey, culminating in a resounding gut punch. Joseph Zada is a revelation. Completely floored by his performance. So charismatic, lovable, tender, and honest; he perfectly captures Haymitch’s love of people, pain, and rebellious spirit. In a series full of incredible performances, his might be the best behind Lawrence. He’s seriously THAT good. Like the book, the film challenges our own implicit submission and acceptance of terms we’ve never agreed to when the odds ARE in our favor. It sympathizes with how easy it is to feel hopeless and apathetic about the world today, how futile resistance seems, yet insists that every small act of defiance paves the way for future change, that every platform we have, for as briefly we have it, is a chance to reclaim control over the narrative. Not because that change is immediate, but because what other choice do we have? Lawrence has always excelled at squaring our growing nihilism with the desire to disrupt the system, and Sunrise allows him to interrogate that tension more directly to great effect. I’ve always maintained that The Hunger Games is one of our most consistent and vital franchises, and Sunrise on the Reaping makes it abundantly clear why the series has transcended the YA boom of the 2010s and is needed today more than ever.
— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) October 28, 2026
Early reactions to the movie have been positive. Critic Griffin Schiller called the film the Rogue One and Andor of the franchise, praising its story of loss and the necessary cost of rebellion. The comparison makes sense as the film focuses more on ordinary people’s heroism rather than the greater political powers at play.
Jennifer Lawrence’s Hunger Games Cameo Was Emotional for the Actress
One of the highlights of The Hunger Games franchise was Jennifer Lawrence’s breakout performance as Katniss Everdeen. She was the Chosen One in the original films. Along with Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, the duo became the face of the franchise. And now, they are confirmed to be coming back to the franchise in Sunrise on the Reaping.
While the cameos were kept under wraps during filming, Lawrence confirmed her return on the Call Her Daddy podcast. She spoke about reuniting with Woody Harrelson and Hutcherson and described how emotional the reunion with her former co-stars was.
It was so emotional. Josh and I didn’t walk to the bathroom without our arms around each other. It was so beautiful…Woody, obviously, came through the window of my hotel room, uninvited. It wouldn’t be the same if he listened to boundaries and used a door.
This marks the first time Lawrence has played Katniss in 11 years. She had previously told Variety that she would return to the character without hesitation if the right opportunity came along.
Are you excited for The Hunger Games prequel? Comment below.
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