Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy in 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.' Murray Close/Lionsgate “There are survivors“ but “there are no winners“ in the Hunger Games.
In the new trailer released Wednesday, Lionsgate offered another look at the return to the dangerous games of Panem in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping trailer.
The film, adapted from Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, centers on fan favorite Haymitch (portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the Hunger Games films), who later acted as a mentor in the Hunger Games to heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence).
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As with the book, the film revisits the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, when a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) competes.
The story “follows Haymitch into the arena, where he forms an unlikely alliance with fellow tribute Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace) and joins a coalition determined to challenge the Capitol’s control under President Snow (Ralph Fiennes). As the competition unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take down the Games from within the arena — setting in motion the rebellion that will change Panem forever,” according to the synopsis.
Throughout the trailer, Zada‘s Haymitch is seen competing while also having to navigate the deadly consequences and his moral compass. “We‘re not animals to kill for their entertainment,“ Zada‘s Haymitch is overheard saying with Head Gamemaker and rebellion leader, Plutarch Heavensbee, (played by Jesse Plemons and was previously played by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in the films) advising, “Show the world that there is another way.“
The cast of the prequel film also includes Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and Francis Lawrence produce with the screenplay by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie.
Lawrence and producer Jacobson previously teamed with Lionsgate on four film adaptations of Collins’ Hunger Games books — The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping releases in theaters and IMAX on Nov. 20.
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