Elizabeth Banks gives her verdict on The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

If you thought we were done with The Hunger Games, think again. There’s another one coming, and Elizabeth Banks, who you’ll recall as Effie Trinket from the original quadrology, has already weighed in. She’s seen the thing—yes, actual eyes on film, not just the trailer—and she’s got opinions. The prequel’s called Sunrise on the Reaping, and there’s already a fair bit to chew on.

I’ve seen the film, and it’s amazing.

The above, from Banks herself, is what she told Variety during the Airbnb.org Gala in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Strong stuff, especially if you remember she fronted four films in the franchise between 2012 and 2015. This time, Effie’s played by Elle Fanning. Banks seems genuinely excited to hand over the baton, which is about as gracious a franchise transition as you could ask for.

The Prequel’s Plot and Timeline

Here’s the set-up for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping: it’s a prequel to the films you either grew up on or valiantly managed to avoid. The new story pulls directly from Suzanne Collins’s 2025 book and lands in cinemas on 20 November, 2026. Expect to see Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch Abernathy (yes, Woody Harrelson’s former role, now passed down), who is about to be thrown headfirst into the 50th Hunger Games—a Quarter Quell, which in Panem-speak means the Capitol’s gone all out with even nastier twists.

Joseph is a perfect Woody Harrelson. He’s fantastic. I can’t wait for people to see it,

Banks heaped praise on Zada’s performance too. If comparing an actor to Woody Harrelson isn’t daunting, I don’t know what is. She seems convinced he pulls it off.

The twist for this particular reaping? Every district’s sending four tributes instead of two, so we’re looking at a total of 48 tributes scrambling to be the last alive. You’d think the odds would be ever further from anyone’s favour.

48 tributes from Panem fight to the death in the sequel’s arena, not the usual 24.

Directing duties are back with Francis Lawrence, who steered a chunk of the original films, with Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie on the script. And there’s a pretty stacked cast alongside Zada and Fanning—Mckenna Grace, Ben Wang, Jesse Plemons, Kieran Culkin, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Billy Porter, Iris Apatow, Maya Hawke, and Whitney Peak, for starters, all making an appearance.

• Elizabeth Banks starred as Effie Trinket (2012–2015)
• Elle Fanning now takes on Effie’s heels and wigs
• Joseph Zada is young Haymitch (the Woody Harrelson role)
• Other names in the arena: Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kieran Culkin, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Billy Porter, Maya Hawke, Iris Apatow, Whitney Peak, Ben Wang