Lionsgate Clears Hunger Games Prequel Attendees for Early Posts After London Screening

Lionsgate is allowing people who attended an Oct. 28 screening in London to post limited reactions to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The studio has not set a date for full critics' reviews, which are expected closer to the Nov. 20 theatrical release. The film is the sixth entry in the franchise, following five movies Lionsgate released from 2012 to 2015 and 2023's The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

Joseph Zada plays 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy of District 12. The story opens on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Annual Hunger Games, called the Second Quarter Quell, which the official synopsis describes as the largest edition yet, with twice as many tributes. Set in Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, the plot follows Haymitch into the arena, where he allies with fellow tribute Maysilee Donner, played by Mckenna Grace, and joins a coalition seeking to challenge President Snow's control of the Capitol. Ralph Fiennes plays Snow.

Francis Lawrence directed the film, based on Suzanne Collins' novel of the same name, with a screenplay by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie. The cast also includes Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak and Kelvin Harrison Jr.

Social media reactions began appearing after the London premiere on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Full reviews remain embargoed until closer to the film's Nov. 20 release date.