“Can you imagine The Sun rising on a world without a reaping?”
The second trailer for the new Hunger Games movie dropped yesterday (but I’m sharing the first). Sunrise on the Reaping is EF’s most anticipated movie of the year, particularly because the original trilogy plays a major role in upcoming SPAΩ episodes (movie mashups I edit here). I’m also thrilled about the cast, including the rookie lead, Joseph Zada, who’s an Aussie, so we’re golden. How do you feel about the casting?
Here is Trailer #1. Still my favorite of the two, featuring The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me.”
Sunrise is Haymitch’s story, set 24 years before his mentorship of Katniss and Peeta in the 74th and 75th Games. That means it’s a Quarter Quell, and you can bet the Capitol has special plans: double the tributes (to fight to the death). That’s right— two boys and two girls from each of the 12 districts of Panem, an alternate-future America where the Capitol is Aspen, Colorado, rather than Washington D.C.
Having read the book over the summer, I can say the production matches my imagination very closely. Even the rainbow-sorbet color palette— which, I admit, makes my eye twitch a little. And that’s the idea, straight from Collins’ book: Haymitch’s Game is a sugar-sweet death trap.
Sunrise on the Reaping (forthcoming, 2026) is directed by Francis Lawrence, who has directed every other Hunger Games film except the first. It comes out November 20th. You can bet I’ll be there. Will you?
EF
Great review.
🙏🌷
I’m probably the only non fan of Hunger Games.
Nonetheless, if I watch it it’s because of your review. Thanks EF!
I’m very biased… Being a millennial, being so close to the franchise with my own editing right now… The FASHION though. It’s so central to the plot! Feel like everybody’s fav part is when all the tributes are paraded out in front of the capital dawning fresh looks from their celebrity designers. And again for round two before TV interview with Cesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci).
E.F., my wife and I will likely be there opening day. We have not seen all of the franchise’s films, but when we saw this trailer in the theatre I at least was hooked. A stellar, spectacular cast, and to your point the colors that fly by during all of the action really popped on the big screen. The fashion, set, and art design all look fabulous. Your post got me fired up. Just a couple of months away now!