Suzanne Collins returns to Panem with a new prequel, “Sunrise on the Reaping.”
Returning to the Arena
Suzanne Collins, inspired by an 18th-century Scottish philosopher and the modern scourge of misinformation, is once again venturing into the ravaged, post-apocalyptic land of Panem. Scholastic announced on Thursday that the fifth volume of Collins’ blockbuster dystopian series, “Sunrise on the Reaping,” will be published on March 18, 2025.
Setting the Stage
The new book begins with the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, set 24 years before the original “Hunger Games” novel, which came out in 2008, and 40 years after Collins’ most recent book, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” This places the story in a crucial period of Panem’s history, offering fans a deeper dive into the origins and evolutions of the Hunger Games.
Movie Adaptation
Lionsgate, which has released film adaptations of all four previous “Hunger Games” books, announced that “Sunrise on the Reaping” will open in theaters on November 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence, who has directed all but the first “Hunger Games” movie, will return to helm this new project.
A Literary and Cinematic Phenomenon
The first four “Hunger Games” books have sold over 100 million copies and have been translated into dozens of languages. Collins had seemingly ended the series after the 2010 publication of “Mockingjay.” However, in 2015, she hinted that it was “time to move on to other lands.” Yet, four years later, she surprised readers by announcing “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” released in 2020, set 64 years before the first book.
Philosophical Inspirations
Collins has drawn from Greek mythology and the Roman gladiator games for her earlier “Hunger Games” books. For the upcoming novel, she cites the Scottish Enlightenment philosopher David Hume. “With ‘Sunrise on the Reaping,’ I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the few govern the many,’” Collins stated. “The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing daily.”
The Franchise Legacy
The “Hunger Games” movies have become a multibillion-dollar franchise for Lionsgate. In the film versions, Jennifer Lawrence portrayed the iconic heroine Katniss Everdeen alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, and Donald Sutherland. Lionsgate chair Adam Fogelson expressed, “Suzanne Collins is a master storyteller and our creative north star. We couldn’t be more fortunate than to be guided and trusted by a collaborator whose talent and imagination are consistently brilliant.”
What to Expect
The film version of “Songbirds and Snakes,” starring Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler, came out last year. A “Hunger Games” stage production will debut in London this fall. The new book is set during the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the second Quarter Quell. Fans may recall from “Catching Fire” that this event featured twice as many tributes and was won by Haymitch Abernathy, an essential character in the series.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” promises to offer a deeper exploration of the themes and history that fans of the series have come to love. The book will be available on March 18, 2025, with the movie following in November 2026. As Collins continues to delve into the complexities of power, control, and resistance, readers and viewers alike can anticipate another compelling chapter in the “Hunger Games” saga.
