Lionsgate has unveiled plans for new Hunger Games movie, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, based on franchise writer Suzanne Collins’ just announced new novel.

The screen adaptation, unveiled by Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture, has Francis Lawrence in talks to direct the adaptation for Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson’s Color Force banner.

Lawrence, screenwriter Michael Arndt and producer Jacobson earlier teamed with Lionsgate on 4 film adaptations of earlier Collins books (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay) that earned $3.3 billion in box office.

Collins and her publisher Scholastic announced the 5th book in the series on Thursday. Scholastic will publish Sunrise on the Reaping in print, digital and audio formats in America and other English-speaking territories on March 18, 2025.

Lionsgate has set a wide theatrical release on Nov. 20, 2026 for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

Set in the Hunger Games universe, Sunrise on the Reaping returns to the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, and timed for the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

The 50th Hunger Games are noteworthy given that the victor was Haymitch Abernathy, the only winner from District 12 prior to Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark’s dual win 24 years later.

Haymitch, who like all victors went on to become a mentor to tributes from his district, was played by Woody Harrelson in the Hunger Games adaptations.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping film will follow The Ballad of Songbirds and Snake prequel movie and will mark the sixth Hunger Games movie from Color Force since bringing the franchise to Lionsgate.

In 2012, Lionsgate debuted the first of 4 blockbuster movies based on the Hunger Games novels, which starred Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen.

The studio’s adaptation of the original book by Collins saw Katniss and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) as they were sent to the Capitol to fight for survival.

Lionsgate’s blockbuster Hunger Games franchise helped make YA postapocalyptic fiction hot property in Hollywood, paving the way for other movie series like The Maze Runner and Divergent. 

 Lionsgate has already rolled out theme park attractions, experiences and live events around the franchise, including The World of the Hunger Games at the Motiongate Dubai theme park, and major stage production set to debut in London.

Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien will oversee the production for Lionsgate. Patricia Laucella and Phil Strina oversaw the rights for the book for Lionsgate.