# Haymitch's Games get the prequel treatment

> The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping trailer reveals surprises in the story of Katniss's mentor's deadly Quarter Quell.
- Title: Haymitch's Games get the prequel treatment · Mashable
- Summary: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping trailer reveals surprises in the story of Katniss's mentor's deadly Quarter Quell. The prequel expands Haymitch's…
- Keywords: the hunger games, sunrise on the reaping, haymitch abernathy, suzanne collins, francis lawrence, quarter quell, prequel, trailer, joseph zada, film adaptation, technology, culture
- Source: Mashable — https://mashable.com/entertainment/the-hunger-games-sunrise-on-the-reaping-trailer-footage
- Author: Belen Edwards
- Published: 2026-09-16T13:39:10+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: the hunger games, sunrise on the reaping, haymitch abernathy, suzanne collins, francis lawrence, quarter quell, prequel, trailer, joseph zada, film adaptation, technology, culture
## Haymitch's deadly games get a prequel
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping focuses on Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss's mentor, and his victory in the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the second Quarter Quell.
## The Quarter Quell was extra horrifying
Because Haymitch's games were a Quarter Quell, they were far more brutal than usual. The Capitol reaped four tributes from every District, creating a supersized battle royale.
## The trailer teases shocking twists
The new footage shows a horrifying chariot stampede and an apparent plot to destroy the arena, suggesting Haymitch's games held far more secrets than expected.
## Revolution seeds planted in the games
The trailer suggests Haymitch and his fellow tributes may have participated in the beginnings of the revolution that later catches fire with Katniss, based on director Francis Lawrence's adaptation of Suzanne Collins' novel.
## Familiar faces return for the prequel
The cast includes new characters like Lenore Dove and fellow tributes, plus returning favorites like Caesar Flickerman, Effie Trinket, and President Snow, plus Glenn Close as Capitol escort Drusilla Sickle.
## Coming to theaters this November
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in select theaters on November 20, 2026.
## Key takeaway

The prequel expands Haymitch's backstory with unexpected twists that hint at the revolution's origins, giving book fans plenty of emotional payoff.