The first full trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is finally here, and it gives fans their best look yet at the 50th Hunger Games. The video dropped on April 12, 2026, showing Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch Abernathy fighting for his life in the Second Quarter Quell. This story happens 24 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the arena. The trailer runs about two minutes and packs in many familiar faces from the original movies, now played by a new group of famous actors.
The Second Quarter Quell Brings Double the Danger
The trailer starts with the reaping ceremony for the 50th annual Hunger Games. Because this is the second Quarter Quell, which happens every 25 years, the rules are different. Each district must send double the number of tributes. Instead of 24 children fighting to the death, 48 tributes enter the arena. Glenn Close appears as Drusilla Sickle, the District 12 escort. She looks completely different with a bright orange-red short wig, heavy makeup, and fake teeth. She smiles and says, “Twice the tributes. Twice the glory.” Fans online said they did not recognize her at first because the makeup work is so extreme.
Joseph Zada Steps Into Woody Harrelson’s Shoes as Haymitch
Joseph Zada plays Haymitch Abernathy at age 16. Woody Harrelson made this character famous in the original four movies. The trailer shows Haymitch getting picked during the reaping. Viewers see him scared, angry, and ready to fight. He hugs another tribute and gives a pin to his girlfriend. The trailer ends with an older Haymitch, voiced by Harrelson, saying, “I think these games are gonna be different.” Producer Nina Jacobson told Variety they did not want someone copying Harrelson. They wanted someone who could grow into that broken man fans know from the original series. Zada said he got a message from Harrelson through his niece, since Harrelson does not use a phone, and the original actor is happy for him.
Mckenna Grace Brings Maysilee Donner and the Mockingjay Pin
Mckenna Grace plays Maysilee Donner, the original owner of the mockingjay pin. Katniss later wears this same pin in the first Hunger Games movie. Maysilee is from District 12 and becomes Haymitch’s ally in the arena. Grace told Teen Vogue that she wants audiences to love Maysilee as much as she does. She said Maysilee has a tough outside but puts up walls to protect herself. The trailer shows her standing with Haymitch, ready to face the other 46 tributes.
Whitney Peak Plays Haymitch’s Love Interest Lenore Dove Baird
Whitney Peak plays Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s girlfriend back home in District 12. The trailer shows emotional moments between them before he leaves for the Capitol. Lenore Dove is also a distant cousin of Katniss Everdeen. Fans of the books know this character connects to Lucy Gray Baird from The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Her presence in the story raises the stakes for Haymitch. He is not just fighting to survive. He is fighting to get back to her.
Ralph Fiennes Takes Over President Snow
Ralph Fiennes plays a younger President Coriolanus Snow. Donald Sutherland played the older Snow in the original films. Tom Blyth played a teenage Snow in the previous prequel. Fiennes brings a new level of cold authority to the role. The trailer shows him watching the Games with a calm, cruel stare. This version of Snow is now fully in power and has been running the Capitol for years. He is no longer the struggling student from the 10th Hunger Games. He is the tyrant fans love to hate.
Elle Fanning and Kieran Culkin Join as Capitol Favorites
Elle Fanning plays a young Effie Trinket, the District 12 escort. Elizabeth Banks played Effie in the original movies. Fanning wears bright pink clothes and big wigs, just like the original character. Kieran Culkin plays Caesar Flickerman, the Games’ TV host. Stanley Tucci played this role before. Culkin brings his own fast-talking, funny energy to the character. The trailer shows him interviewing tributes with a big smile. Both characters represent the Capitol’s control over how people see the Games.
Jesse Plemons and Other Key Players Enter the Arena
Jesse Plemons plays a young Plutarch Heavensbee. The late Philip Seymour Hoffman played this role in the original movies. At this point in the story, Plutarch works as a cameraman for the Games, not yet the Head Gamemaker. Kelvin Harrison Jr. plays a young Beetee Latier, the smart tribute from District 3 who becomes an expert in technology. Maya Hawke plays a young Wiress, another smart tribute known for saying “tick tock” in the original movies. Lili Taylor plays Mags, the sweet older tribute from District 4 who later volunteers for Annie in Catching Fire.
Fans React to the Star-Studded Trailer
Social media lit up within minutes of the trailer dropping. One fan wrote on X, “Glenn Close stepping into the Hunger Games world just feels so right. She brings that calm scary elegance without even saying a word.” Another fan said, “Was honestly so confused because she had the aura of Glenn Close but I didn’t recognize her, that makeup is insane.” Many fans pointed out how many Oscar winners and nominees are in this movie. One called the cast “stacked” and said it feels like a birthday gift. The trailer has millions of views across YouTube and social media platforms.
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When and Where to Watch The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping releases in theaters on November 20, 2026. The movie will open in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and India on the same week. Francis Lawrence returns as director. He has made every Hunger Games movie since Catching Fire. Billy Ray wrote the script based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel. The movie was mostly filmed in Spain. This is the sixth movie in the franchise and the second prequel after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
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