Sunrise on the Reaping to Open in Theaters Nov. 20
The Hunger Games prequel casts Jacksonville actor Devon Singletary as Blair, the best friend of a young Haymitch Abernathy.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Science Fiction
Lionsgate's Sunrise on the Reaping, a Hunger Games prequel, opens in theaters on November 20, 2026. The film, set during the 50th Hunger Games, features Jacksonville, Florida, actor Devon Singletary in the role of Blair.
Why it matters
The film expands the Hunger Games story by depicting an earlier Games, the second Quarter Quell, and the youth of Haymitch Abernathy. Its release comes as all five original Hunger Games movies are currently available on Hulu and Disney+.
The film is set 24 years before the original Hunger Games and 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, placing it at the 50th Hunger Games. Commercial performance has not yet been reported, as the film opens November 20, 2026.
The players
Lionsgate
Lionsgate is a major film studio that produced and distributed the Hunger Games franchise.
Devon Singletary
Devon Singletary is a 27-year-old actor and filmmaker based in Jacksonville, Florida, cast as Blair in the film.
The details
Lionsgate held an open casting call for the film and announced in 2025 that Devon Singletary, a 27-year-old actor and filmmaker based in Jacksonville, had been cast as Blair. The film is set in Panem during the second Quarter Quell and follows a young Haymitch Abernathy.
Timeline
2025: Lionsgate announces Devon Singletary's casting in the film.
November 20, 2026: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in theaters.
Franchise Timeline
Sunrise on the Reaping is set 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, extending the franchise's prequel timeline further back into Panem's history. It builds on the Hunger Games series by depicting the 50th Games, the second Quarter Quell.
The film opens in theaters on November 20, 2026, so audiences will need to see it in cinemas on that date. All five original Hunger Games movies are currently available on Hulu and Disney+ for viewers who want to watch the series before the prequel arrives.
The takeaway
Sunrise on the Reaping extends the Hunger Games timeline to a generation before Katniss Everdeen, adding context to the franchise's history. Viewers new to the series can stream all five original films on Hulu and Disney+ ahead of the November release.
What happens next
Sunrise on the Reaping opens in theaters on November 20, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more science fiction films for other genre releases.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Commercial.
