‘Dawn on the Reaping’ Film: What We Know Concerning the ‘Starvation Video games’ Prequel

The discharge of Suzanne Collins’ “Dawn on the Reaping” marked a brand new daybreak within the “Starvation Video games” franchise.

The e-book, which hit cabinets on March 19 and offered greater than 1.5 million copies worldwide in its first week, is the second prequel to Collins’ immensely common dystopian collection, following the 2020 launch of “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”

“Dawn on the Reaping” takes place a number of a long time earlier than the occasions of “The Starvation Video games” trilogy and facilities on a youthful model of Haymitch Abernathy — performed by Woody Harrelson within the authentic movie franchise — as he fights for survival as a District 12 tribute within the Capitol area.

Like “Ballad,” the most recent installment reveals key lore in regards to the world of Panem, and thankfully for followers, it is also getting tailored for the large display.

Here is every part we all know in regards to the film, from a launch date to the forged.

Some spoilers forward for “Dawn on the Reaping.”

‘Dawn on the Reaping’ would be the sixth ‘Starvation Video games’ film

Previous to the e-book’s launch, Lionsgate introduced that it was turning the story right into a characteristic movie.

The information of the forthcoming film was shared simply hours after Collins introduced in June 2024 that she was publishing one other “Starvation Video games” story.

On the time, Deadline reported that the movie, “The Starvation Video games: Dawn on the Reaping,” could be launched on November 20, 2026.

Francis Lawrence, the filmmaker who helmed each film within the collection besides the 2012 authentic, will direct the film from a script tailored by Billy Ray.

Nina Jacobson and her producing companion Brad Simpson are confirmed as returning to provide the prequel underneath their Shade Pressure banner.

The day earlier than “Dawn on the Reaping” was printed, Jacobson spoke to Selection in regards to the coming adaptation. She advised the outlet her staff has “a fantastic draft” of the script nonetheless in progress and that they’d “established our areas” for manufacturing.

“We’re very far alongside for a e-book that is solely going to come back out tomorrow,” she stated.

The movie is in early manufacturing, however most of the movie’s predominant forged members have been introduced

“Dawn on the Reaping” is about to characteristic an enormous forged. The Starvation Video games that Haymitch is reaped into characteristic double the variety of tributes competing. Collins additionally introduces readers to characters in District 12 who’ve connections to the opposite books within the collection. Plus, the novel consists of appearances from “Starvation Video games” favorites like Effie Trinket and Plutarch Heavensbee.

Over the previous month, Lionsgate has been revealing the movie’s forged on social media, exhibiting snippets of the characters’ introduction within the novel bursting into flame to disclose the actor portraying them.

Here is the “Dawn on the Reaping” forged to this point:

• Haymitch Abernathy: Joseph Zada
• Lenore Dove Baird: Whitney Peak
• President Snow: Ralph Fiennes
• Effie Trinket: Elle Fanning
• Plutarch Heavensbee: Jesse Plemons
• Beetee Latier: Kelvin Harrison Jr.
• Wiress: Maya Hawke
• Mags Flanagan: Lili Taylor
• Maysilee Donner: Mckenna Grace
• Wyatt Callow: Ben Wang
• Louella McCoy: Molly McCann
• Lou Lou: Iona Bell

The movie’s star, Zada, is a relative newcomer with only a handful of roles to his identify, per IMDb. In March, Jacobson advised Selection that her staff was seeking to Woody Harrelson, who performed Haymitch within the authentic “Starvation Video games” trilogy, for inspiration when casting their subsequent star.

She stated she hoped the actor who landed the position might seize the “mischief” Harrelson dropped at the position with out “impersonating” him.

“You need anyone who very credibly looks like they could possibly be a younger model of this character, earlier than the trauma and grief and rage that the fallout of the Video games create,” Jacobson stated. “No person may be Woody Harrelson, however Woody Harrelson.”

Of the roles introduced up to now, Fiennes and Fanning’s castings have arguably generated essentially the most buzz.

Fiennes, who is not any stranger to movie franchises after enjoying Voldemort within the “Harry Potter” movies, might be providing the third cinematic iteration of President Coriolanus Snow.

Followers adopted Snow as a younger man within the first prequel, wherein Tom Blyth portrayed him, and because the getting old villain within the three authentic “Starvation Video games” movies, performed by Donald Sutherland. Snow is the first antagonist in “Dawn on the Reaping,” as he’s within the authentic trilogy, and he makes some chilling appearances within the novel.

Elizabeth Banks performed Effie Trinket, Katniss and Peeta’s handler from the Capitol, within the authentic “Starvation Video games” trilogy, and the character seems as a younger stylist in “Dawn on the Reaping.” Followers have been desperate to see who would step into Banks’ footwear as a result of her efficiency was so beloved within the movies, and earlier than her casting was introduced, many took to social media to share that they hoped Fanning could be forged within the movie.

Plemons might be taking on as Plutarch for Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Jeffrey Wright performed Beetee Latier earlier than Kelvin Harrison Jr. Curiously, each Plemons and Harrison beforehand performed as Hoffman and Wright’s youngsters in different initiatives. Plemons was Hoffman’s son within the 2012 movie “The Grasp,” and Harrison was Wright’s son in “Monster,” launched in 2018.

A teaser clip guarantees that ‘these video games are going to be totally different’

Two weeks after the “Dawn on the Reaping” e-book was launched, Lionsgate unveiled the movie’s brand on Instagram in a teaser clip.

The clip consisted of a collection of animated illustrations, beginning with a shot of a volcano. The picture nods to the story’s plot, as a volcanic eruption wipes out most of the tributes in Haymitch’s video games.

Lava from the volcano explodes within the video, forming a hen and a snake image that connects by its tail. The striker, which is illustrated on the e-book’s cowl, performs an vital position within the e-book, so it is a pure alternative for the emblem.

As the form of the striker comes into view within the clip, “The Starvation Video games: Dawn on the Reaping” seems on the display. Then, Harrelson’s voice may be heard saying, “I believe these video games are going to be totally different.”

Followers are hopeful Harrelson, in addition to Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, would possibly seem in “Dawn on the Reaping” to play out the novel’s epilogue.

“Forty-eight tributes. One victor,” the caption of the publish learn. “The Starvation Video games: Dawn on the Reaping — in theaters November 20, 2026.”