‘Hunger Games’ fever re-ignites with new trailer, buzzy play

Fire is catching — again.

On Thursday, Lionsgate dropped a surprise teaser trailer for the latest “Hunger Games” film — “Sunrise on the Reaping” — exactly one year before the surefire blockbuster will hit theaters on Nov. 20, 2026.

The first look gave fans a first glimpse at a star-studded cast that includes Glenn Close, Ralph Fiennes, Kieran Culkin, Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Mckenna Grace, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Whitney Peak and Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch.

“Sunrise on the Reaping” — the fifth entry in Suzanne Collins’ blockbuster book series — hit shelves earlier this year, demolishing records: It sold 1.5 million copies in its first week globally, with domestic first-week sales doubling that of previous “Hunger Games” prequel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and tripling those of book three, “Mockingjay.”

The latest Panem-set story is a prequel that follows Haymitch Abernathy (portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original three films) as he fights for his life in the 50th Hunger Games.

Lionsgate, the studio behind the $3.4 billion-grossing film franchise, announced its big-screen adaptation at the same time Collins’ book was revealed, beginning development on the project before the novel even made its way into fans’ hands.

It’s an unusual order of events in film production, but could work in Lionsgate’s favor to continue a hot streak — in recent weeks, the studio has topped the box office with an $80.5 million No. 1 opening for “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” in addition to its record-breaking trailer launch for the Michael Jackson biopic, “Michael,” which has already clocked 294 million views (and counting).

But bookshelves and movie screens aren’t the only arena “Hunger Games” is still conquering.

In October, the story of the first book and movie was mounted as a buzzy London stage adaptation featuring John Malkovich as President Snow (portrayed by Donald Sutherland in the original films).

A state-of-the-art new playhouse, the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, was constructed specifically to host the production. “The Hunger Games: On Stage” earned rave reviews upon its debut, and sources tell Page Six that ticket sales have already been extended through Oct. 2026 due to strong demand.

Since author Collins published the first “Hunger Games” novel back in 2008, the acclaimed dystopian books and films have remained fixtures of the cultural zeitgeist.

With a best-selling new book, the launch of an explosive trailer and the mounting of a buzzy London stage play, excitement surrounding the juggernaut franchise has again reached a fever pitch in 2025.

It’s not yet clear what the future holds for the franchise, but “The Hunger Games” continues to emerge as victor nearly 17 years after the debut novel first burst on the scene.