Scholastic announced on June 6 that it would be publishing a new Hunger Games prequel by bestselling author Suzanne Collins, to be released March 18, 2025.
The new story, Sunrise on the Reaping, takes place in Panem 24 years before the first Hunger Games novel, at the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games. The fifth book in the series is set 40 years after Collins’ newest release, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, published in 2020.
Collins told Scholastic that the story was inspired by the idea of “implicit submission” and wanted to explore the “use of propaganda” and “those who control the narrative.” On March 18, the book will be published simultaneously in print, digital, and audio mediums.
The Hunger Games series has sold more than 100 million copies of the four books in print and digital formats worldwide and in 54 different languages. Collins seemingly ended the series with Mockingjay, telling readers it was “time to move on to other lands.” When she announced that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was in the works, fans were pleasantly surprised. Now on her second surprise addendum to the series, Sunrise on the Reaping is expected to give readers what they want.
“Sunrise on the Reaping is a remarkable book, bringing new complexity, perspective, and revelations to a piece of the Hunger Games story that readers have longed to know more about,” said Ellie Berger, Scholastic Trade President.
On the same day as the book announcement, Lionsgate said it would adapt Collins’ book into a film to be released on November 20, 2026. Lionsgate also produced the adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, as well as the original Hunger Games trilogy.
“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,” said Collins.
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