New Hunger Games Movie Prequel Gets Official Verdict From Author

Published Nov 14, 2026, 9:56 AM EST Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 10 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is facing an honest review from its creator. Suzanne Collins, author and creator of the Hunger Games franchise, has written a letter addressed to fans of her novels and the movies, giving her official verdict on Francis Lawrence's retelling of Sunrise on the Reaping. The author stated, "Our incredible director, Francis Lawrence, does double duty as our third producer. A brilliant visual storyteller, he’s helmed an extraordinary film, which maintains the book’s narrative and themes, while bursting with his own distinctive style." Collins continued and even confirmed the return of some major franchise stars to the upcoming adaptation: "Woody’s return to reprise his character, along with our amazing original stars, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, adds such poignancy to the film. It’s such a gift to watch them bridge Haymitch’s Hunger Games to Katniss’s tale. Led by a remarkably powerful and moving performance by Joseph Zada, our new cast is astonishingly good by every measure. From feisty young tributes Mckenna Grace, Ben Wang, Molly McCann, Iona Bell, Percy Daggs IV, Laura Marcus and Jhaleil Swaby, to conspiratorial victors Kelvin Harrison Jr, Maya Hawke and Lili Taylor, to soulful District 12 denizens Whitney Peak, Kara Tointin, Smylie Bradwell, Melody Chikakane Brown, Scot Greenan, Grace Ackary, Jeffrey Lee Hallman, Serafin Mishiev and Jefferson White, to stellar Capitol standouts Glenn Close, Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Billy Porter, Iris Apatow and Edvin Ryding, and to everybody who sparkled in the Capitol or gave a three-finger salute in District 12, the performers have brought such understanding, humor, pathos and pizazz to their characters. Gems, every last one. I truly can’t imagine a better cast." More to come...