The Hunger Games made a huge announcement and teen screams at me

The Hunger Games film series has confirmed that a sixth film is in the works after the fifth book was recently announced. Acclaimed author Suzanne Collins will release a second sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents, called Sunrise on the Reaping.

A fifth book, scheduled for release on March 18, 2025, will be set 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents, centered around the second quarter, and the story of the original series character Haymitch Abernathy.

The official X account (formerly known as Twitter) announced a few hours after the book news, a movie deal has been arranged to be released in 2026. The account wrote: “Welcome to the Second Quarter Quell. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – in theaters November 20, 2026.”

Hunger Games fans will be familiar with the vague origin story of Haymitch, played by Woody Harrelson in the films, where he appeared as Victor in the 50th anniversary event of The Hunger Games. A description of the new book revealed that the story will begin on the morning of the Second Quarter Harvest, the process by which Tributes are selected for the Games.

However, the birthday event is no ordinary game, with double the number of children chosen to participate. Each year, two Tributes are chosen from the 12 districts of Panem (Collins’s fictional future United States of America), making a total of 24 participants. During the 50th anniversary, this was increased to 48.

Fans of the book and film series shared their excitement over the news. Bibi said: “Is it already in the works??? OMG.”

Tbim wrote: “I am seated. the theater staff are freaking out and asking me to leave because ‘the movie doesn’t exist yet,’ but I’m just too seated.”

D3NNI commented: “OH MY GOD HELLO? ????????????Am I dreaming??????????”, while Percy Jackson News said: “I’ll be waiting at the cinema tomorrow, I know it says 2026 but I’m afraid I be out of theaters tomorrow waiting until it’s released or I’m diagnosed…”

Cowboy Sav wrote: “Girl didn’t they just announce the book? Oh, don’t play.”

It follows the success of Collins’ first prequel, with the novel released in 2020. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, starring Rachel Zegler, Tom Blythe, Peter Dinklage and Viola Davis, was released in November 2023.

Suzanne Collins’ novel Sunrise on the Reaper will be released on March 18, 2025. The film will follow a year later on November 20, 2026.