Lionsgate releases a new trailer for Sunrise on the Reaping

Primary Journalistic Dispatch & Direct Reporting

Also: Laika Studios debuts a stunning full-length trailer for its stop-motion feature, Wildwood .

Lionsgate has released an action-packed trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping - a sequel to 2023's Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and a prequel leading into the events of the first film, The Hunger Games (2012). In addition, Laika Studios released a trailer for its highly anticipated stop-motion animated feature, Wildwood .

The main protagonist is a young Haymitch Abernathy, future District 12 mentor to Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). Woody Harrelson's older Haymitch is a fan favorite who later becomes a jaded, drunken (yet secretly hopeful) cynic. Per the official synopsis:

In-Depth Developments & Factual Context

Set in the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games , the story follows Haymitch (Joseph Zada) into the arena, where he forms an unlikely alliance with fellow tribute Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace) and joins a coalition determined to challenge the Capitol's control under President Snow (Ralph Fiennes). As the competition unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take down the Games from within the arena - setting in motion the rebellion that will change Panem forever.

In addition to Zada, Grace, and Fiennes, the cast includes Ben Wang as Wyatt and Molly McCann as Louella, Haymitch's fellow District 12 tributes for the 50th Hunger Games, aka the Second Quarter Quell, in which each district is required to send twice as many tributes to the capitol to compete to the death. (If you've read all the books and seen the films, you already know Haymitch wins his Games; the suspense and the emotional stakes lie in how he pulls it off - and what he loses in the process.)

The cast also includes Jesse Plemons as a young cameraman named Plutarch; Glenn Close as District 12 chaperone Drusilla Sickle; Kieran Culkin as a young Caesar Flickerman, host of the Games; Elle Fanning as the young Effie Trinket, a stylist; Billy Porter as another stylist, Magno Stift; Maya Hawke as a young Wiress, winner of the prior year's Games; Lili Taylor as the young Mags Flanagan, winner of the 11th Games; Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, another prior winner and father to District 3 tribute Ampert (Percy Daggs IV); and Whitney Peak as Haymitch's girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird.

Industry Impact & Strategic Analysis

We'll also meet Asterid March (Grace Ackary), BFF to Maysilee and future mother to Katniss, as well as Burdock Everdeen (Scot Greenan), future father to Katniss. Lawrence and Hutcherson will reprise their respective roles in the film as Katniss and Peeta, most likely in a flash-forward cameo to set up the segue into the original film.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in theaters on November 20.

Laika Studios released an extended teaser for this stop-motion animated film in May, which racked up over 90 million views thanks to Laika's stellar reputation and some very beautiful visuals. The equally gorgeous first full trailer, set to a haunting cover of Avicii's " Wake Me Up, " followed last month .

Forward Outlook & Market Perspective

Twelve-year-old Prue McKee discovers the forest while out walking with her baby brother, Mac. A murder of crows swoops down and carries him away, and Prue discovers the Wilderness while hunting for him. Her schoolmate, Curtis Mehlberg, follows her, and both are able to enter that magical world. Fantastical adventures ensue as the pair encounters a mysterious woman, Alexandra, who has lost her son, along with coyotes, bandits, and some pretty big secrets.

Peyton Elizabeth Lee voices Prue, while Jacob Tremblay voices Curtis, and Carey Mulligan voices Alexandra. The cast also includes Angela Bassett as a giant golden eagle called the General, Jake Johnson and Maya Erskine as Prue's parents, and Arthur Knight as her baby brother, Mac.

In addition, the film will feature Mahershala Ali as Brendan the Bandit King, Jemaine Clement as Roger Swindon, Awkwafina as a rat named Septima, Charlie Day as a coyote named Dmitri, Amandla Stenberg as Niamh, Tom Waits as Maxim, Tantoo Cardinal as Iphigenia, Richard E. Grant as the wise old Owl Rex, Marc Evan Jackson as Lars Svik, and Len Cariou as Richard. Rob Delaney, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, and Blythe Danner will voice as-yet-undisclosed roles.

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