With the release of Hunger Games Sunrise on the Reaping, fans have been sharing their excitement for the film debuting in 2026. But how will it be adapted from the book? Here are our predictions. Spoiler Alert!
The multimillion dollar series Hunger Games is returning to our screens in November 2026 following the recent release of the prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping. Suzanne Collins, the author, blessed us with a second prequel to the series following Haymitch Abernathy and his time in the 50th Hunger Games. The story starts on the morning of the reaping, his birthday, and ends with his victory in the games and loss of his family and girlfriend Lenore Dove showing the reasoning behind his character in the original trilogy. The book contained, love, loss, heartbreak, easter eggs, violence and much more, but how will it be adapted into a film?
The film was announced following the book announcement and is set to be released in November 2026 and there has been casting confirmations such as, Joseph Zada as Haymitch and Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird. Despite this, there is little known surrounding the film itself and what will be included. It is evident that there will be parts cut from the book as a film is not long enough to include everything and the Ballad of Songbird and Snakes film removed quite a lot of aspects such as the parade etc. Here are Nova’s predictions:
The Beginning
The beginning of the book starts with a lot of context surrounding Haymitch’s friends including Easter eggs about Katniss’ parents and finally getting name reveals. We also follow Haymitch as he works for Hattie Meeney. We predict the film will start with his birthday and a montage of him in the morning working for Hattie. He will then meet Lenore Dove, where she gives him the flint striker that later becomes an important aspect of the plot.
The Reaping
The reaping is an important aspect of the film and was quite a long process due to the death of Woodbine Chance and Lenore Dove being captured by Peacekeepers for defiance. We discover that Haymitch was never actually reaped for the games and it was instead a punishment. Afterwards we are first introduced to Plutarch Heavensbea, a well established character from the original trilogy. This is again important to the plot, however, we predict the filming of the propos (propaganda) will be cut and the reaping will be fast paced.
The Train Ride
After being chosen the tributes are taken on a train to the capital. This is important, as we learn details about Louella, Wyatt and Maysilee, the three other tributes. We also get the conflict between Maysilee and Drusilla. Although this establishes their personalities we think a large proportion of the train ride will be cut, including the explanation of Wyatt’s family being betters. The conversation however, where Maysilee asks for a fork and tells Louella, “if you act like an animal they will treat you as one” will be included as it is an iconic line. Some of Maysilees insults towards Drusilla and the slap with also be included to show her fiery side.
The Pesticide
After the train ride the tributes are taken to their prep team and meet the other district tributes for the first time. The tributes are given a shower, however, it is actually pesticide and there is confrontation between Maysilee and the career districts. We predict this will be cut from the film, similar to how a large part of Katniss’ prep was cut from the first film.
The Tribute Parade/Louella’s Death
The Tribute Parade is also a key aspect of the book, it starts with them having nothing to wear, as their stylist does not show up. This is important to the plot, as it means that later Effie shows up to help. Despite this we think it will only briefly be mentioned. The parade also ends with the carts crashing and Louella getting thrown off and dying. This is extremely important to the plot, as she is later replaced with Lou Lou, who has been surgically altered and controlled by the government. It displays the control and power that President Snow has and cruel nature they have due to them torturing a child. Haymitch also shows another act of defiance when he carries Lou Lou’s body and shows it to Snow, which causes him to be punished later on. Due to this, we predict it will be kept in the film.
The Training
The Training takes up a large portion of the book, as it takes place over the course of a few days. We are also introduced to Ampart the son of Beetee from the original trilogy and they decide to form an alliance against the career districts. Haymitch also gets the chance to meet Beetee, where he is shown how to create electricity from a potato and it is the beginning of the plan to blow up the arena. Maysilee helps other tributes make necklaces out of their tokens, which aids in the forming of the alliance. We predict that these key moments will be kept, however, the rest of the other training will be cut.
Haymitch Drinking the Milk
Plutarch takes Haymitch to his home, which is when he first starts to learn that Plutarch is working towards a rebellion, as seen in The Hunger Games Mockingjay. At his home they have a conversation and he later brings him to talk to Snow. In this we show Snow being poisoned and them bringing him Milk, which later becomes important. We predict this could be cut as we already know from the previous films that Plutarch is a rebel and Snow drinks poisons to avoid suspect. However, due to the significance of Haymitch meeting Snow and him drinking the milk that would have helped the president, we predict it will be kept.
The Games
The Games are a large proportion of the books, and therefore will be a majority of the film. However, this means a lot of it will have to be cut. In the original film a lot of Katniss’ struggles, including her dehydration are cut. We think this will be similar for the new film and his interaction with some of the mutts and other tributes being cut. Although, the meeting up with Ampert and successfully completing the plan to blow up the arena will be kept in. We predict it will be shortened and quicker than it was in the book.
The Capital Cleaners
Cleaners from the capital enter the arean to mop up a mess and are then found by the tributes, who proceed to kill them. This is quite important, as it shows no one is safe from the capital and how brutal the games can be. Despite this, we predict it could be cut from the film, similar to aspects of TBOSAS, purely due to time constraints.
The Decapitation
One of the most gruesome deaths in the franchise is Wellie, another tribute in the games who gets decapitated by Silka. In the book she lifts up her head, which Haymitch sees. Although this is quite significant for Haymich, due to the gruesomeness of the death and restrictions it would cause in age rating the film, we predict it might be cut.
After the Games
After the games Haymitch is kept in the training centres for days being fed milk and bread. It is inferred that the milk and bread helps with poison, which explains why Haymitch does not die by the gumdrops that later kill Lenore Dove. This is important, however, not necessary to include. Therefore, the days spent in the capital after the games, we predict will be cut.
Effie Trinket
Maysilee’s twin
At the end of the book, District 12 holds a funeral for the dead tributes and his family. During this, Haymitch sees Maysilee’s twin Merrilee and mistakes her for Maysilee thinking she is still alive before remembering she has a twin. It is rumoured that Merrilee is the mother of Madge, Katniss’ betfriedn and daughter of the mayor. In the books, Madge gives Katniss the mockingjay pin, however, she was erased completely from the film. Due to this, it has been speculated online that Merrilee’s character could also be erased or not included significantly in the film.
Lucy Gray’s Grave
Lucy Gray Baird, one of the main protagonists from A Ballas Of Songbirds and Snake, disappears afterwards and we are left without clarity on what happened to her. However, when Haymitch visits Lenore Dove’s grave he sees one for Lucy Grey. We predict this will be kept in the film, as a nod to the previous film and easter egg for her character.
The Epilogue
The book finishes with an epilogue et after the events of the original trilogy. It is unsure whether this will be kept in, as it would require the original actors, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Woody Harrelson to return to the franchise. We cannot give a prediction on this, but fans of the show are hoping they return and the scene is kept.
Of course it is unclear what the film is going to entail and we can only make predictions based on the book and previous films, so we will see what happens in November 2026.
