'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' trailer teases a treat for book fans

Haymitch Abernathy's story comes to life in the latest "Hunger Games" film.
 By 
Belen Edwards
 on 
Joseph Zada in "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping."
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The latest trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping gives fans of Suzanne Collins' novel plenty of emotional devastation to look forward to.

The prequel focuses on Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark's Hunger Games mentor Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada). He won the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the second Quarter Quell. Because Haymitch's games were a Quarter Quell, they were an even more horrifying spectacle than usual. The Capitol reaped four tributes from every District, making the 50th Hunger Games a supersized battle royale.

Since Haymitch is alive (albeit not at all well) in the main Hunger Games films, you may think you know exactly how his Quarter Quell will play out. However, Collins' novel is full of surprises, and based on the latest trailer, director Francis Lawrence is bringing them all to life. Look no further than a horrifying chariot stampede that ends in rebellious applause from Haymitch, or an apparent plot to destroy the arena. Clearly, there's more to these games than meets the eye, and Haymitch and his fellow tributes may just be participating in the beginnings of the revolution that catches fire with Katniss.

The trailer introduces key characters in Haymitch's orbit, from his love Lenore Dove (Whitney Peak) to fellow tributes Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace), Wyatt Callow (Ben Wyatt), and Louella McCoy (Molly McCann). Also present are some familiar faces to any Hunger Games fans: Caesar Flickerman (Kieran Culkin), Wiress (Maya Hawke), Effie Trinket (Elle Fanning), Plutarch Heavensbee (Jesse Plemons), and Beetee Latier (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). Presiding over it all is the ever-chilling President Snow (Ralph Fiennes).

To catch all these characters in action, along with an unrecognizable Glenn Close as Capitol escort Drusilla Sickle, check out the full trailer above.

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

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Topics Film Trailers

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Belen Edwards
Entertainment Reporter

Belen Edwards is an Entertainment Reporter at Mashable. She covers movies and TV with a focus on fantasy and science fiction, adaptations, animation, and more nerdy goodness. She is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Television Critics Association, as well as a Tomatometer-approved critic.


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