The first official stills from the upcoming film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping have arrived, offering fans a bold new glimpse into the world of Panem while spotlighting a new generation of actors stepping into iconic roles. Directed by Francis Lawrence and based on the 2025 novel by Suzanne Collins, the film is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026.

Among the striking images, Joseph Zada appears as a young Haymitch Abernathy—originally portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the earlier films—while McKenna Grace is seen in the role of Maysilee Donner, and Whitney Peak is featured as Lenore Dove Baird.

These images, released via official channels in tandem with the film’s first teaser trailer, underscore the franchise’s ambition to refresh its visual identity while retaining its dystopian roots.

Casting & character highlights

The newly revealed stills are part of a broader push by Lionsgate and production partner Color Force to generate momentum for the sixth theatrical installment of the Hunger Games saga.

Joseph Zada’s selection as Haymitch marks a pivotal moment. The character has long been a fan-favourite mentor in the original trilogy, and this prequel positions him early in his journey—plucked from District 12 and drafted into the catastrophic 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, where twice the usual number of tributes are forced into the arena.

McKenna Grace steps into the role of Maysilee Donner, a key tribute with deeper connections to Hunger Games lore (including a tie to the original Mockingjay pin). Meanwhile, Whitney Peak’s casting as Lenore Dove Baird introduces another central figure in Haymitch’s backstory.

Visual tone and setting

The stills themselves reflect a departure from the familiar bleakness of past films, offering a more expansive, cinematic vision of the arena and the districts. One image shows Haymitch and Lenore standing in District 12’s early morning light; another captures a moment in the arena with Grace’s Maysilee in combat gear. These visuals suggest a heightened focus on character relationships before the full-scale horror of the Games takes hold.

In the teaser trailer (released November 20, 2025), viewers saw explosively cinematic elements: dramatic prosthetics on veteran actor Glenn Close in the role of Drusilla Sickle, an atmosphere of impending doom as tributes line up, and a unifying voice-over hint that “the Games are gonna be different.”

Franchise implications and expectations

With Sunrise on the Reaping, the franchise returns to its dystopian roots while doubling down on spectacle, mythology expansion and casting breadth. The earlier prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) proved commercially successful, prompting Lionsgate to continue mining the source material.

Notably, the film arrives at a time when streaming platforms and franchise fatigue challenge big-screen offerings. The new stills and trailer appear aimed at re-energising the fan base while appealing to newcomers. The diverse and high-profile cast (including Ralph Fiennes as President Snow and Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket) further emphasises the film’s broad ambitions.

What these stills reveal — and what they don’t

On one hand, the images offer a clear visual update and reveal the cast in costume, confirming previously announced roles for Grace, Zada and Peak. On the other hand, they stop short of showing full plot details or revealing major twists. For example, although we know the story takes place 24 years before the original Hunger Games, the exact mechanisms of the arena and how Haymitch becomes the haymaker we come to know remain largely under wraps.

The stills also hint at elevated production values: expansive location filming, lush natural environments in the arena scenes, and a palette that juxtaposes the sinister (Games) with the pastoral (home districts). These elements suggest a bigger budget and more ambitious visual direction than earlier entries.

Fan reactions and media coverage

Social media and Reddit threads have been quick to dissect the stills, focusing heavily on Grace (who has rapidly emerged as a next-gen star) and Zada’s portrayal. One Reddit thread includes: “First official images of Joseph Zada, McKenna Grace, and Whitney Peak in Sunrise on the Reaping” and users debated how his Haymitch will compare to Harrelson’s.

Media outlets have noted the first stills alongside the trailer release as the franchise’s heavy marketing kick-off. The timing—exactly one year before release—signals a full-scale campaign ahead of November 2026.

What to watch for moving forward

As the campaign unfolds, several key areas merit attention:

Talent development: How will Joseph Zada’s performance as young Haymitch compare with the older version fans know? Will McKenna Grace bring the same gravitas she’s shown in other roles?

Visual identity: Will the arena’s new look feel fresh or echo past films? The stills suggest a more open, natural arena environment rather than purely industrial dread.

Narrative links: How will the film connect to both the original Hunger Games trilogy and the 2023 prequel? Given the emphasis on backstory, fans will watch closely for plot beats that tie to familiar characters and motifs (e.g., the Mockingjay pin).

Fan vs. new viewership: Can the film satisfy long-time fans while remaining accessible to newcomers? With a large ensemble cast and updated visuals, this appears to be the strategy.

Overall, the first-look images from The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping deliver on promise: refreshed casting, bold visuals, and an aggressive marketing rollout that reflect the franchise’s enduring strength. With a release date set and anticipation mounting, the film aims to not just revisit Panem—but reinvent it for a new era.
As the countdown to November 2026 continues, fans and critics alike will be watching how much these images and early teasers translate into the full cinematic experience.