A key member of the creative team for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is making a franchise return alongside a first look at the logo. The anticipated prequel novel Sunrise on the Reaping was released by Scholastic last month on March 18, 2025, which followed the 50th Hunger Games won by franchise character Haymitch Abernathy. Like past iterations, Lionsgate is also set to release an adaptation of the latest Suzanne Collins novel, with the film currently slated for release on November 20, 2026.

In a presentation at CinemaCon, where ScreenRant was in attendance, Lionsgate announced new information for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The producer announced that Billy Ray would serve as the screenwriter. The studio also revealed the logo for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, featuring animated versions of a snake and mockingjay, with sparks circling around them. The end of the short clip features a voiceover from Haymitch and a version of the mockingjay call.

What This Means For The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping

The Logo Is A Reference To The Book

Ray is no stranger to the Hunger Games franchise. The writer penned the script for the first Hunger Games movie, which got the film franchise off the ground. In addition, he is an Oscar nominee who was recognized for his work on the 2013 film Captain Phillips. His history with the franchise and critical acclaim make him a strong contributor to the upcoming prequel. He will work alongside a team that includes Frances Lawrence as director, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson as producers, and Cameron MacConomy as executive producer.

The plot for Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will focus on the early story of Haymitch, who competed in the 50th Hunger Games (aka the Second Quarter Quell). An older version appeared in the original Hunger Games trilogy, with Woody Harrelson portraying the iconic victor. The logo is a reference to the book’s cover, which depicts the flint striker Haymitch receives as a gift from his girlfriend on his birthday. The item becomes a significant token when Haymitch competes in the games, as the prequel unravels more insight into what really happened before, during, and after the 50th Hunger Games.

Our Take On This Sunrise On The Reaping News

The Creative Team Choice Is Strong

Similarly to previous movies, the logo cleverly ties into existing art in Collins’ The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping book, making for an exciting first visual tease for the movie. As far as the writing is concerned, bringing back Ray is particularly wise for this movie. While there are differences in the storylines, Sunrise on the Reaping has a very similar structure to the first Hunger Games book, beginning with the reaping and training, and then transitioning to the game itself and its aftermath. Thus, this will make Ray a great fit to adapt Sunrise on the Reaping.

Source: Lionsgate