Lionsgate has officially returned us to Panem. The studio dropped the first teaser for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, offering an early look at the franchise’s next chapter — and highlighting newcomers Whitney Peak, Jhaleil Swaby, and Percy Daggs IV stepping into the world of the Second Quarter Quell.
Arriving in theaters November 20, 2026, the prequel introduces a young Haymitch Abernathy, played by rising actor Joseph Zada. Long before the cynical, sharp-tongued mentor we met in the Jennifer Lawrence–led films, Haymitch was a tribute fighting through one of the deadliest Games in history. The Second Quarter Quell imposes a cruel twist: each district must send two tributes, doubling the pool to 48 children fighting to survive.
Spotlight on New Talent
Though brief, the teaser centers several key new faces:
- Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s District 12 girlfriend
- Jhaleil Swaby as Panache Barker, a fellow tribute
- Percy Daggs IV as Ampert Latier, a District 3 tribute
FULL CAST
Tributes
The tributes stepping into the arena include Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Percy Daggs IV as Ampert Latier, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, Molly McCann as Louella McCoy, Iona Bell as Lou Lou, Jhaleil Swaby as Panache Barker, Laura Marcus as Silka Sharp, Rada Rae as Wellie, Sky Frances as Maritte, Tatyana Muzondo as Ringina, Alina Reid as Kerna, Salimou Thiam as Clayton, John Doeble as Buck, and Karine Buffange as Hull.
Capitol Residents
The Capitol ensemble includes Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, Billy Porter as Magno Stift, Iris Apatow as Proserpina Trinket, Edvin Ryding as Vitus, Sandra Förster as Hersilia, and Jax Guerrero as Tibby.
Mentors
Guiding the tributes are Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier — a District 3 victor whose son Ampert enters the Games — Maya Hawke as Wiress, another District 3 victor, and Lili Taylor as District 4 legend Mags Flanagan.
District 12 Residents
Back home, District 12 is represented by Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Kara Tointon as Haymitch’s mother Willamae Abernathy, Smylie Bradwell as his brother Sid, Jeffrey Hallman as Clerk Carmine, Serafin Mishiev as Woodbine Chance, Scot Greenan as Burdock Everdeen, Grace Ackary as Asterid March, Melody Chikakane Brown as Hattie Meeney, Jefferson White as Mr. McCoy, and Devon Singletary as Blair.
A Return to a Defining Era of Panem
Based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel, the film revisits Panem 24 years before the first Hunger Games movie. Francis Lawrence, who has directed most of the franchise, returns once again, with Billy Ray penning the screenplay. The film brings together a robust cast portraying younger iterations of familiar characters alongside brand-new tributes and mentors.