Just an hour after it was announced that a new ‘Hunger Games’ novel by Suzanne Collins was coming, Lionsgate quickly greenlit a movie adaptation. Described as a prequel, “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” is said to follow the Second Quarter Quell, won by Haymitch (Woody Harrelson). It will hit theaters on Nov. 20, 2026. Franchise filmmaker Francis Lawrence, he helmed the last four movies, is in talks to direct.
I will say that I didn’t mind last year’s ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,’ but it was fairly overlong and this franchise has run its course. I also didn’t love the two ‘Mockingjay’ movies. However, the first two ‘Hunger Games’ instalments were good and “Catching Fire” was the best of the lot. Expect some good reviews for this latest one.
Lawrence isn’t a bad director. He has a talent for shot selection — a lot of experimentation with upper and lower angled shots. Jo Willems’ photography was also top-notch. He’s a paycheck guy, not an auteur, but he tends to do the best he can with whatever he’s given.
Suffice to say, as a refresher, I decided to check out Lawrence’s filmography and, hey, it turns out he’s actually made some decent studio films over the course of his 18-year directing career. Nothing overtly exceptional, but he’s been nothing short of consistent: “Constantine,” “I Am Legend,” “Catching Fire,” and “Red Sparrow” stick out. There are far worse filmmakers out there.