Suzanne Collins’ newest Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, which will depict Haymitch’s time in the 50th Hunger Games and second Quarter Quell, is set to release March 18, 2025. After a long wait and high anticipation for Haymitch’s Hunger Games story since its surprise announcement last year, many fans have begun to re-read the original trilogy to re-immerse themselves in Collins’ dystopian society of Panem. However, not everyone may have had the time to refresh their memories of the previous series before Sunrise on the Reaping‘s release.
If it has been a while since you’ve read any of Susanne Collins’ Hunger Games books, you may have forgotten some of the minor and more intricate dynamics of the games. While Sunrise on the Reaping‘s narrative is sure to cover the basics of the Hunger Games and how they operate, there are several small details that might be overlooked for the sake of being nonrepetitive. If you don’t have time to re-read the series before Sunrise on the Reaping, these are the top ten things to remember before jumping in.
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10
Quarter Quells Are Specially Designed Hunger Games Years
Haymitch’s Games Will Require Double The Amount Of Tributes
In the world of the Hunger Games, every 25 years the anniversary would be marked by a Quarter Quell, a glorified version of the games that serves as a reminder of those killed by the districts’ rebellion. Previously, in Catching Fire, Collins described what these Quarter Quells have previously added to the already daunting games; with the twenty-fifth requiring districts to elect their tributes, the fiftieth — Haymitch’s year — reaping double the amount of tributes, and the seventy-fifth reaping its tributes from the existing pool of victors.
Aside from the unique elements to each Quarter Quells reaping changes, the arenas are also made even more lethal.
The Quarter Quell is announced weeks before the actual reaping, as explained in Catching Fire, so citizens of each district are well aware of what is to come on reaping day. This should play out similarly in Sunrise on the Reaping, and it’s likely Haymitch will speak to the heightened odds of being selected in the fiftieth Hunger Games, knowing that double the number of tributes will be chosen and considering his name has already been added extra times. Aside from the unique elements to each Quarter Quells reaping changes, the arenas are also made even more lethal.
9
Tributes Are Reaped From A Pool Of Children Aged 12 To 18
Haymitch Will Be 16 When He Enters The Games
As a part of the punishment from the rebellion, only children are to be reaped and sent into the Hunger Games area to fight to the death. One becomes eligible for the games on their twelfth birthday, and the final year of eligibility is eighteen — meaning there are seven years a child must enter into the reaping ceremonies. In the original Hunger Games trilogy, it’s explained that no one in District 12 likes it when a 12-year-old is selected, but it’s more common than one would think.
In Sunrise on the Reaping, we know from a sneak peek into the early chapters that were shared on People Magazine, that the reaping day is also Haymitch’s birthday. Having just turned 16 years old, Haymitch will be entering the arena at the same age that Katniss did. While his fellow tributes’ ages are yet unknown, the book’s synopsis also mentions a “young friend” who is reaped as one of the female tributes, and she could be as young as 12 years old.
8
District 12 Is The Poorest Of All The Districts
Many Children Die Of Hunger In The Seam
District 12 is generally known to be the poorest of all twelve districts, as dealing in coal hasn’t created a lot of opportunities for wealth in their communities. However, there are poorer areas than others found within District Twelve. The merchants are able to live a relatively comfortable life, albeit with limited means, but those who live in the area nicknamed The Seam, have it even worse.
Many from The Seam end up becoming Hunger Games tributes, as they need to enter their name more times to receive extra food.
The Seam is District 12’s poorest community, and many of those who live in this area have no other option but to become coal miners when they come of age. It’s often explained in the original Hunger Games trilogy that in this area of the district many children die of hunger. It’s because of this that many from The Seam end up becoming Hunger Games tributes, as they need to enter their name more times to receive extra food.
7
Tributes May Enter Their Name More Times To Receive More Tesserae
This Heightens The Odds Of Being Reaped
The reaping system, without modifications, adds a child’s name increasingly to the reaping in correlation to their age. The year one becomes eligible for the games, at twelve-years-old, their name is entered once into the reaping. At thirteen, twice, and so on, until the last year of eligibility when a child turns 18 and has their name entered seven times. This is true for every citizen in all 12 districts across Panem.
And the entries are cumulative. So now, at the age of sixteen, my name will be in the reaping twenty times.
—Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games
However, for those who are in dire need, there’s an option to add one’s name extra times into the reaping in exchange for tesserae. Each of the tesserae is worth a meager year’s supply of grain and oil for one person. This can be done for every person in a household, meaning in a household of three people, one’s name at the age of twelve could be added four times into the reaping. Entries are cumulative, so year after year of signing up for tesserae would mean one’s name is added up to 42 times by their eighteenth birthday.
6
The Reaping Isn’t Held Until 2pm
This Gives Residents Time With Family Beforehand
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Collins explains in the first Hunger Games novel that the reaping is not held until two-o’clock in the afternoon, giving the entire district a morning off from work to prepare for the day’s events. In the first novel, Katniss uses this time to hunt in the woods with Gale before needing to get ready, and it’s likely Sunrise on the Reaping will explore some of Haymitch’s District 12 relationships before he sets off for the reaping.
From the early Sunrise on the Reaping excerpt, we know that Haymitch was planning on spending the morning with his girlfriend, Lenora Dove, before his mother requested his help with a few chores. Whether or not Haymitch is able to postpone his chores is yet to be seen, but it’s obvious from the typical reaping day timeline that readers should get to see Haymitch interact with his friends, girlfriend, and family before heading into the Hunger Games.
5
Attendance Of The Reaping Is Mandatory
Only Those On Death’s Door Are Exempt
The Hunger Games reaping, even if one has aged out of eligibility, must be attended by everyone in the district. The only real exception to attend is if someone is at death’s door. Peacekeepers will be roaming around the city during the reaping’s events to ensure no one is hiding or has refused to attend — and if one was found doing so, they’d face dire consequences.
Katniss explains in the first Hunger Games novel that the Capitol wishes to treat the Hunger Games as a festivity or a sporting event, wishing for the games to create excitement among its viewers who can root and cheer for their favorite tributes. Although not many, if any, District Twelve attendees likely feel the same way. Instead, the districts have to watch in humiliation as one of their own is sent to their deaths year after year.
4
At The Time Of Haymitch’s Reaping, District 12 Had Only One Prior Victor
District 12’s First Victor Was Lucy Gray Baird
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District 12 has long been considered the weakest district because it had so few victors throughout the Hunger Games’ decades-long run. At the time of Haymitch’s reaping, District 12 had only one victor in nearly 50 years of the games — Lucy Gray Baird. Lucy’s Hunger Games story is depicted in Susanne Collins’ prequel novel A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which also highlights President Snow’s rise in power.
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Lucy Gray Baird Explained: Hunger Games History, Relationships & Who Plays Her
Rachel Zegler plays Lucy Gray Baird in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, replacing Katniss Everdeen as the District 12 tribute in the Hunger Games.
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But given that there have been no other victors to come out of District Twelve, and assuming Lucy was no longer alive at the time of Haymitch’s reaping, it’s often been questioned whether Haymitch or his fellow tributes ever had a mentor. Typically, those who win the Hunger Games will become mentors in the years to come until there is another victor, but it’s still unknown whether Lucy will make an appearance again in Sunrise on the Reaping.
3
After The Reaping, Families & Friends Have One Hour To Wish Tributes Luck Or Say Goodbye
They Have A Few Minutes Before They Depart For The Capitol
Once a tribute has been reaped into the Hunger Games, their friends and family have one last opportunity to wish them luck or say their final goodbyes. This is seen in the original Hunger Games novel, as Katniss is visited by a number of friends, family, and acquaintances in the allotted hour before departing for the Capitol. The final goodbyes are held just inside the Justice Building, and from the first novel it’s assumed any number of people can come to say farewell.
“…I try to prepare for the next hour. The time allotted for tributes to say good-bye to their loved ones.”
– Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games
For Katniss, she had four separate visits, first from her mother and sister, then Peeta’s father, her friend Madge, and Gale. Knowing this, I’m assuming we should get to see Haymitch say his goodbyes to his mother and younger brother, Sid, in addition to his girlfriend Lenore Dove, among any others who wish to say goodbye. This is bound to be a pretty emotional scene and should highlight a lot about Haymitch’s relationships.
2
Haymitch Wins The 50th Hunger Games
He Becomes District 12’s Second Victor
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Obviously, as Katniss and Peeta’s mentor in the original Hunger Games novels, we know that Haymitch wins the fiftieth Hunger Games, but it’s important to note going into his novel that his win will change his life forever. Not only did Haymitch become a victor, but the way in which he won had consequences for those that he loved. During his games, as detailed in Catching Fire, Haymitch found out the secret of the arena’s force field, and used it to his advantage to win the games.
However, this was seen as a direct act of aggression and rebellion against the Capitol, making them look stupid for not realizing the force field could be weaponized. Because of this, Haymitch’s family and girlfriend were killed as an example of what happens to those who defy the Capitol. While his win should have been celebrated alongside his return to District Twelve and his loved ones, Haymitch returns to find they have been killed.
1
Hunger Games Victors Become Mentors
Whoever Wins Never Really Escapes The Games
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Winning the Hunger Games comes with a lot of advantages; a brand-new home in the Victor’s Village, plenty of food, and enough money to never work another day in your life. However, there is one caveat, as a Hunger Games victor will also become a mentor for subsequent tributes. Those who win the games never really get to escape it, as year after year they will be brought back to the Capitol to witness the deaths of several more children.
While Sunrise on the Reaping will likely focus solely on Haymitch’s games and win, it could give more insight into his life after the games as well.
Before Katniss and Peeta came along, Haymitch spent 24 years after his own victory watching the District 12 tributes die in the Hunger Games. After the death of his family and girlfriend, it couldn’t have been easy to deal with year after year, and Haymitch’s alcohol dependency in the original Hunger Games novels makes much more sense when understanding how this could have affected him. While Sunrise on the Reaping will focus solely on Haymitch’s games and win, it could give more insight into his life after the games as well.
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The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Science Fiction
Action
Adventure
Release Date
November 20, 2026
Director
Francis Lawrence
Producers
Brad Simpson
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping explores the dystopian world of Panem 24 years prior to Katniss Everdeen’s story. This prequel focuses on the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, unveiling the origins of crucial events and traditions in the series.
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