Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins.Sunrise on the Reaping is the latest novel in Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series, set over two decades before the events of the original story and following Haymitch Abernathy during his time in the infamous arena. The book does a brilliant job of reframing the events of The Hunger Games while providing readers with a whole new story about love, ambition, and sacrifice that fits neatly with ongoing themes of the series. Sunrise on the Reaping also features some major revelations about The Hunger Games that will surely please long-time fans of the franchise.

A movie adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping has already been announced, and many fans are already speculating how this film could tie into the existing movies. The epilogue of Collins’ new prequel features a surprise appearance from Katniss Everdeen, facilitating a potential return to The Hunger Games universe from Jennifer Lawrence. However, there’s one specific character whom readers were looking forward to seeing in Sunrise on the Reaping who didn’t actually appear, potentially shutting the door on their movie return.

Sunrise On The Reaping Has Lots Of Lucy Gray References, But She Isn’t Actually In The Book

The Book Takes Place Long After Her Disappearance

Lucy Gray is the protagonist of The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes, Collins’ last prequel book which takes place during the foundational years of Coriolanus Snow’s dystopian survival games. Played by Rachel Zegler in the movie adaptation, Lucy Gray quickly became a fan-favorite character thanks to her strong personality and resounding similarities to Lawrence’s portrayal of Katniss Everdeen. Although Lucy Gray is officially missing at the end of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, many readers were hoping for a surprise appearance in Sunrise on the Reaping.

While this isn’t the case, Lucy Gray is still mentioned in Haymitch Abernathy’s prequel story. It’s revealed that his love interest Lenore Dove is somehow related to Lucy Gray, and that both of these powerful heroines may be distantly related to Katniss Everdeen. This small detail makes Haymitch’s story even more heartbreaking, reframing his role in The Hunger Games as the mentor to his late girlfriend’s relative.

The Hunger Games Prequel Rules Out A Lucy Gray Cameo In The Upcoming Movie

It’s Very Unlikely That The Movie Will Include A Needless Cameo

The absence of Lucy Gray from Sunrise on the Reaping makes it very unlikely that she will appear in the upcoming movie adaptation, not least because it may ruin the ending of Songbirds and Snakes. The whole point of that prequel’s conclusion is that President Snow is haunted by the actions that led to Lucy Gray’s disappearance, forever unsure whether or not she’s really ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. She becomes a nameless ghost whose legacy haunts him until his own death in Mockingjay.

I’m not convinced that bringing Lucy Gray back for the Sunrise on the Reaping movie would be a good idea, as it would ruin the ambiguity of her story’s conclusion in the previous film. Not to mention, the character would be too old for Rachel Zegler to reprise her role, so the appearance wouldn’t have as much emotional impact. Instead, it’s much more effective for her legacy to be simply mentioned, adhering to the idea that her name only lives on as a symbol of resistance and rebellion.

I’m Disappointed We Won’t See Lucy Again, But The Book’s Ending Appearances Are Even Better

There Are Some Even Better Cameos In The Book

While it’s a shame that Lucy Gray seemingly won’t be a part of Sunrise on the Reaping’s movie adaptation, the characters that do appear in the story’s epilogue are even more effective. Haymitch never knew Lucy Gray, so her return wouldn’t be as thematically powerful as Katniss and Peeta’s, who make a brief appearance during a flash-forward scene in which Haymitch recounts his story following the events of Mockingjay.

Though Katniss and Peeta’s appearance in the Sunrise on the Reaping epilogue could easily come across as needless fan service, I’m confident that their characters would actually serve a clear purpose in the movie. Their involvement in the book is an excellent way of tying Haymitch’s story together while proving that everything he sacrificed in the arena was ultimately worth it thanks to Katniss’ successful rebellion. The only way to really make this clear in the movie would be through Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson’s involvement, which would clearly pay homage to the original story and display how тιԍнтly Haymitch’s story is intertwined with theirs.