‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Movie Taps Billy Ray to Write

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Billy Ray is back in business on The Hunger Games.

The writer who penned the original blockbuster in 2012, which earned an Oscar nomination, has been chosen to write the screenplay for the upcoming franchise movie based on Suzanne Collins’ latest bestseller, “The Hunger Games: Sunrise at the Reaping”.

On Tuesday morning, some major news emerged from the Colosseum stage in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, as part of Lionsgate’s studio presentation. As we had earlier reported, Francis Lawrence will direct “The Hunger Games: Sunrise at the Reaping,” and the film is now scheduled for a global release on November 20, 2026. During this year’s CinemaCon event, Lionsgate also showcased the animated logo for “The Hunger Games: Sunrise at the Reaping.

In a thrilling announcement, Lawrence stepped onto the stage and declared that one book from the hit series is his “most cherished” due to its incredible narrative filled with an unforgettable twist. He revealed that filming is set to begin in July, and the crew is actively involved in the casting process. Lawrence added that they’ve spent a year working on this script, keeping most of it hidden under tight security, and he will soon depart for pre-production preparations.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to delve into a story that transports us back to the captivating universe of Panem, this time 24 years prior to the Hunger Games we all know, specifically on the day of the 50th Hunger Games, or the Second Quarter Quell. This is where Haymitch Abernathy, brilliantly portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original films, competes. The movie production is under the expert hands of Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, with Cameron MacConomy serving as executive producer. Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien are carefully overseeing the project for Lionsgate. Phil Strina skillfully negotiated the deal on behalf of the studio.

Hey there! As a gaming enthusiast, I’m super excited to share some awesome news about “Sunrise on the Reaping” this month that isn’t only related to my writing gig. Last week, as you might have heard from The Hollywood Reporter, Scholastic announced an incredible achievement for Suzanne Collins’ latest addition to the Hunger Games series. In its first week, it sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide in English! This number includes print, e-books, and audiobooks across the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. To put things into perspective, these sales figures surpassed those of previous installments in the series. Talk about a blockbuster hit!

In the U.S., over one million and two hundred thousand copies of “Sunrise on the Reaping” were sold during its first week on sale, which is double the number of copies “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” sold in 2020 and three times as many as “Mockingjay” did in 2010, according to Scholastic.

Ray worked alongside Collins and Gary Ross in the creation of the first Hunger Games movie, which ultimately grossed close to $700 million globally. This project earned him an Oscar nomination, particularly for his role in the Tom Hanks-led film Captain Phillips. Some of his other notable works include Shattered Glass, Flightplan, The Last Tycoon, Terminator: Dark Fate, Richard Jewell, and The Comey Rule.

Ray’s upcoming projects involve a film titled “Animals,” currently in production with Ben Affleck as director, and his first novel, “Burn the Water,” scheduled for publication by Scholastic Books on March 3, 2026. He is represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and the law firm of Lichter Grossman.

Each year, theater owners and Hollywood studios gather at CinemaCon, an event now organized by Cinema United (formerly known as the National Association of Theatre Owners). This year’s event takes place in Las Vegas from March 31st to April 3rd.

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2025-04-01 21:26