Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games franchise is making an unexpected return with a new standalone book and film, and fans are losing their minds over it.

The book, titled Sunrise on the Reaping, is set 24 years before the events of the original series, and will centre on the Hunger Games that Katniss Everdeen’s (Jennifer Lawrence) mentor Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) took part in. According to the synopsis, the story will see “dramatic occurrences unfold on the morning of the reaping of the 50th contest.”

Shortly after the book was announced Lionsgate confirmed that a movie adaptation had also already been green-lit, which is set to be released on 20 November, 2026. So why are fans so excited about this project in particular? Well there is good reason for it.

Haymitch is a fan favourite

Let’s start with the obvious, and that’s the fact that the upcoming book and film will focus on a young Haymitch. The character is a stalwart fan favourite thanks to his close connection to Katniss, as well as his sharp wit and penchant for sarcasm.

As Katniss and Peeta Mellark’s (Josh Hutcherson) mentor readers, and viewers, learned a lot about Haymith over the course of the Hunger Games trilogy. Hints of the events of the Second Quarter Quell were revealed in the narrative, such as the fact double the amount of tributes were sent into the Hunger Games arena and that Haymith was the sole survivor.

Read more: Josh Hutcherson recalls being kicked in the head and concussed by Jennifer Lawrence

The character was brought to life brilliantly by Harrelson in the Hunger Games movies as he perfectly embodied his gruff yet loveable demeanour. Readers and viewers grew a strong emotional attachment to Haymitch, so it is smart of Collins to focus on him after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Even The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes star Rachel Zegler has commented on it. Sharing a post on X in 2021, Zegler wrote: “girls don’t want boys. girls want suzanne collins to release a haymitch abernathy origin trilogy”.

Following the news of the new book and movie she then retweeted the post and said in addition: “you’re welcome guys”.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes proved a success

Speaking of Zegler, it is worth also bringing up the first Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes which told the story of a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and his time as mentor to Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler).

The book and its corresponding film helped to reignite fans’s passion for the Hunger Games franchise, and brought a story that had a connection to Katniss but felt refreshing and new. With interest in the world that Collins created back in full force, it makes sense that the author would want to capitalise on that too.

Read more: Where to stream The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes for free

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes proved a slow burn at the box office, not reaching the same highs as the Hunger Games trilogy but still having a remarkable staying power in cinemas. The film earned over $300m worldwide, but given its smaller budget it was a win for Lionsgate.

Fans have already started fancasting the prequel

The book and movie may only be in its early stages, but fans of the franchise have come out in force to share their ideas for who could play a young Harrelson. Two names in particular were raised by fans: Tom Glynn-Carney and Louis Hoffman.

Glynn-Carney is a rising star in the industry following his breakout role as Aegon Targaryen in House of the Dragon, a role he is set to reprise in the HBO show’s second season. Meanwhile, Hoffman is a German actor who has starred in shows like Netflix’s Ripley and Dark.

Both actors bear some resemblance to Harrelson, and in that sense they could well make good choices to play a young Haymitch in future.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set to be released in cinemas on 20, November 2026.