# The Hunger Games Prequel Gets Positive Reactions

> Early reactions to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping praise it as near-perfect, comparing it favorably to Andor.
- Title: The Hunger Games Prequel Gets Positive Reactions · CBR
- Summary: Early reactions to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping praise it as near-perfect, comparing it favorably to Andor. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the…
- Keywords: the hunger games, sunrise on the reaping, joseph zada, hunger games prequel, star wars andor, lionsgate, entertainment, culture, Hunger, Games, Prequel, Gets
- Source: CBR — https://cbr.com/the-hunger-games-sunrise-on-the-reaping-first-reactions
- Author: Lee Freitag
- Published: 2026-10-29T15:25:20+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: the hunger games, sunrise on the reaping, joseph zada, hunger games prequel, star wars andor, lionsgate, entertainment, culture
## First Reactions Arrive
Early social media reactions to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping are overwhelmingly positive after its London premiere on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.

> near-perfect
## Comparisons to Andor
Some reactions compare Sunrise on the Reaping favorably to the Star Wars Disney+ series Andor, calling it a near-perfect prequel.

> near-perfect
## Joseph Zada's Role
Joseph Zada portrays Haymitch Abernathy, the alcohol-loving mentor from the Hunger Games franchise, in the prequel's majority of scenes.
## Haymitch's Backstory
Sunrise on the Reaping reveals how Haymitch became the man seen in the original movies by winding the clock back 24 years to show what he lost winning the 50th Hunger Games.
## Cast and Crew
The film stars Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, with Woody Harrelson reuniting as older Haymitch and Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen.
## Release Details
Sunrise on the Reaping opens in theaters on November 20, 2026, with a runtime of 150 minutes and directed by Francis Lawrence.
## Key takeaway

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping received overwhelmingly positive early reactions, with some calling it near-perfect and comparing it to the Star Wars Disney+ series Andor.