Haymitch’s backstory to release date: All the juicy details of Sunrise on the Reaping
I’ve been waiting years to find out how Haymitch won the second Quarter Quell
Many of us big fans of The Hunger Games are still reeling from last November’s insane movie release, in which Suzanne Collins and Francis Lawrence brought us The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The movie was a huge success and I still have Olivia Rodrigo’s Can’t Catch Me Now on repeat. But the queen of dystopian YA fiction clearly doesn’t sleep; a brand new Hunger Games novel titled Sunrise on the Reaping will be hitting bookshelves in 2025. Are you trying to kill me, Suzanne Collins?! Here’s everything we know about the new Sunrise On The Reaping book.
What will the new novel be about?
via Amazon Prime
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When will the film be released?
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Along with the forthcoming book release, Lionsgate has already announced plans to for a feature film which is set to hit theatres on November 20th, 2026. Francis Lawrence, the filmmaker behind the last four Hunger Games movies, is allegedly in talks to return to the franchise. “From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for The Hunger Games franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026,” Suzanne continued.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson also praised the announcement, “The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later. Like fans around the globe, we are eagerly anticipating this exciting return to Panem.”
How exactly did Haymitch win the second Quarter Quell?
via Amazon Prime
If you were anywhere near Tumblr in the early 2010s, you’ll know how demanded Haymitch’s story has been amongst fans. The ambiguous details of his story always seemed so interesting: In the trilogy’s second novel, Catching Fire, we learn that Haymitch competed in the 50th annual Hunger games, which contained double the regular number of tributes. The details of his win were brushed over in the film adaptations, but we know he was reaped along with District 12’s Maysilee Donner and two other tributes.
Haymitch and Maysilee formed an alliance, but went their separate ways once the number of tributes fell down to five, not wanting to be responsible for each other’s deaths. Maysilee was tragically killed by bird-mutts, and Haymitch held her hand while she died.
He used the forcefield at the edge of the arena to kill the final District One tribute with her own axe: As she threw it at him, he ducked and it bounced right back and killed her instead. He won the games on this technicality, which President Snow was not pleased by. When Haymitch refused to cooperate with the Capitol, they murdered his family and girlfriend. This fall from 16-year-old victor to washed up alcoholic a wild ride that fans are desperate to read.
In the meantime, everybody say thank you to Rachel Zegler!
you’re welcome guys https://t.co/KbMfebjJNZ
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) June 6, 2024
Whatever the new story brings us, rest assured that there’ll be plenty of political messaging, murderous plots and a brand new part of Panem history unfurled. May the odds be ever in our favour!
The Traitors UK season two is available on Amazon Prime. For more like this explainer on the Sunrise On The Reaping Book and for the best reality TV and entertainment news, like Pop Culture Shrine on Facebook.
Related stories recommended by this writer:
• I volunteer as tribute! Here is a definitive ranking of every Hunger Games movie
• What are the cast of The Hunger Games up to, 10 years since the film?
• Student sets up bizarre Hunger Games tournament for Twitter Tories
Featured image via Netflix
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