The Hunger Games universe expands with another new book written by Suzanne Collins, and the timing of the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping‘s release is record-breaking. On June 6, 2024, it was officially confirmed that Collins was writing the fifth Hunger Games book. Sunrise on the Reaping is another prequel set 24 years before the original story, with its story beginning the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games and Haymitch Abernathy’s selection as District 12’s male tribute. The Sunrise on the Reaping book announcement confirmed a March 18, 2025 release date.

The announcement of a new book was quickly followed up with confirmation that The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is being developed as a movie. Lionsgate holds the big screen rights to the franchise, and it confirmed that the studio is eager to make another Hunger Games movie after The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. This brought confirmation that Sunrise on the Reaping‘s movie adaptation will be released on November 20, 2026. The fast-paced nature of the film’s development means it is already breaking a franchise record.

Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’s Movie Has The Franchise’s Shortest Release Gap

The Movie Comes 1 Year After The Book

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping‘s release date is a major surprise when considering how fast the previous films were made after the books. The original Hunger Games movies all came out four years after their respective books were released. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes shortened the gap to only having three years between the book and film releases. Now, Sunrise on the Reaping will come out the year after the book – or more specifically one year and eight months – which is a new record low.

Lionsgate using a much faster schedule than before alters expectations for when audiences would have thought the movie would come. The earliest The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping would hit theaters under the usual timetable was 2028. This means the Haymitch prequel is arriving a full two years faster than audiences are used to when it comes to reading Suzanne Collins’ new Hunger Games books in preparation for a movie adaptation.

Why Sunrise On The Reaping’s Release Date Is Coming So Much Quicker

The Franchise Has Been Reborn

There is a reason why Lionsgate is moving so much quicker with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping‘s release date than before. Lionsgate successfully brought back the franchise on the big screen in 2023 with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The prequel received strong reviews and performed well at the box office. And while The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 2 is not yet happening, the studio clearly wants to capitalize on the property while interest is still there.

When the original Hunger Games movies were made, Lionsgate managed to have a new entry debut every single year. This was largely thanks to the books already existing and the franchise being able to have a clear roadmap for the movie. The eight-year gap between when Mockingjay Part 2 and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes came out was not the norm. By moving The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping through development so quickly, audiences will only have to wait three years before new Hunger Games movies instead of the gap becoming much longer.