Everything We Already Know About Sunrise On The Reaping’s Hunger Games Thanks To Catching Fire

Earlier this year, Suzanne Collins announced The Hunger Games series would be expanding, and her Sunrise On The Reaping prequel will shed light on an all-new Hunger Games—this time the second Quarter Quell. While much of the new Hunger Games book has been kept under wraps, its plot is likely to revolve around Haymitch Abernathy’s time in the arena. This marks an exciting addition to Collins’ Hunger Games franchise, and the second book in the series, Catching Fire, has already shared a glimpse at the games that will be shown throughout Sunrise On The Reaping.

This prequel will create a greater depth of understanding into the fan-favorite character, and Haymitch’s Hunger Games are known to be the reason for his alcohol dependency in the later books. The second Quarter Quell is widely known to be the bloodiest Hunger Games in history, as twice the amount of tributes entered the arena that year. Catching Fire sees Katniss and Peeta reviewing highlights of these brutal games, and this short scene gives audiences some clue about what to expect in Collins’ latest addition to the series.

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48 Tributes Entered The Arena

2 Male & 2 Female Tributes From Each District

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The Hunger Games are already a daunting experience for anyone whose name is in the reaping, but for a Quarter Quell, it’s made even more so. A Quarter Quell is an especially important Hunger Games year, one in which the game makers raise the stakes to further punish the districts for a decades-old rebellion. Unfortunately for Haymitch, he would participate in the 50th Hunger Games and the second Quarter Quell. And unlike a typical Hunger Games year, these would require double the amount of tributes at the reaping.

Two male and two female tributes were to be reaped and entered into the games during the second Quarter Quell, bringing the total number of tributes in the arena to 48. This rise in numbers drastically reduces the chance of survival for all involved, and Haymitch had to outlast 47 opponents to return home to District 12. This makes his win all the more impressive, but also gives readers a glimpse into the trauma he must have harbored since surviving such a brutal environment.

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Haymitch Was One Of The Two Male Tributes

Katniss Is Shocked He Looks So Confident And Healthy

Effie at the microphone in magenta while Peeta and Katniss stand on either side of her in muted clothing at the District 12 reaping in The Hunger Games

During this scene in Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta witness Haymitch’s reaping and subsequent games—and Katniss even mentions how shocking it is to see Haymitch so young, fit, and healthy when his name is called for the reaping. Collins’ inclusion of this detail is meant to give readers a better picture of the drastic difference between the Haymitch of before and after the games, and it’s saddening to know just how much they changed who he was.

“So, Haymitch, what do you think of the Games having one hundred percent more competitors than usual?” asks Caesar.

Haymitch shrugs. “I don’t see that it makes much difference. They’ll still be one hundred percent as stupid as usual, so I figure my odds will be roughly the same.”

The audience bursts out laughing and Haymitch gives them a half smile. Snarky. Arrogant. Indifferent.

Because Haymitch was the winner of the 50th games, the tape that details the second Quarter Quell largely focuses on him—and only highlights a few other tributes who survived late into the games. But before the games begin, Katniss and Peeta are able to witness some of the training he endured in the Capital, including Haymitch’s interview with Caesar Flickerman. Neither of the two are surprised to find that Haymitch comes across as an arrogant and snarky tribute—something they don’t believe he had to reach too far to achieve.

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One Female Tribute Was Katniss’ Mom’s Best Friend

The Scene Shows Her Mom Holding Maysilee’s Hand During The Reaping

Hunger Games Katniss' Mom screenshot from movie

While the passage doesn’t detail who the other male tribute is, it does mention one of the female tributes, Maysilee Donner. When Maysilee comes onto screen, Katniss realizes the young girl is her mom’s friend who died in the games—and the tape even shows her mom and another girl holding onto Maysilee once her name is reaped. This scene also reveals the other girl to be Maysilee’s twin sister, and Madge’s mom. This is a revelation for Katniss, as she realizes the mockingjay pin that has become her symbol first belonged to Maysilee Donner.

Madge gives Katniss the mockingjay pin before her first games in The Hunger Games, explaining it used to belong to her aunt.

Maysilee is only mentioned so much during this Catching Fire scene, but from the passage, it’s clear her character plays an important role throughout the games. It will be interesting to see how far Sunrise On The Reaping will explore her character, and would be exciting to see the narrative explain further significance to the mockingjay pin. Knowing Haymitch trains with her before the games begin, and later they become allies in the arena, it’s a possibility the book will cover her character in more detail.

6

The Arena Was Deceptively Beautiful

These Games Were The Bloodiest In History

The Hunger Games cornucopia

The second Quarter Quell is known to be the bloodiest Hunger Games in history. Not only is this due to double the amount of tributes, but because the arena itself was a designed trap. When the tributes first arrive, most are so distracted by its beauty they forget to step off their plates—and Katniss even mentions that it’s the most beautiful place she’s ever seen. However, this causes over 18 tributes to die in the bloodbath on the first day alone, and when the others begin to explore the territory, they find the arena is as beautiful as it is deadly.

“It’s the most breathtaking place imaginable. The golden Cornucopia sits in the middle of a green meadow with patches of gorgeous flowers.”

The arena for the second Quarter Quell might be beautiful, but almost everything inside proves to be deadly poisonous—including the fruit, water, and even the scent of certain flowers. The arena is also full of terrifying Capital mutts—mutated animal-like creatures—such as carnivorous golden squirrels, and flocks of candy-pink birds with beaks intended to skewer their prey. If Collins was able to fit this much detail in a few short pages, the games depicted in Sunrise On The Reaping will surely become even more terrifying.

5

Haymitch and Maysilee Were Allies

Maysilee Saves Haymitch’s Life

Katniss, Peeta, and Finnick from the film Catching Fire

Allies in the Hunger Games are relatively common, and most of the Career pack tends to team up until the number of tributes starts to dwindle down. The idea of an ally is somewhat a comical concept, as the Hunger Games can only have one winner, and any close attachments in the arena are doomed from the start. It’s unknown whether Haymitch ever wanted an ally, but he finds himself a partner in Maysilee Donner after she saves his life. This scene depicts Haymitch fighting a group of three career tributes, and he would likely have died if Maysilee had not intervened.

Haymitch in The Hunger Games

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This begins the alliance between Haymitch and Maysilee, and she states they’d live longer if they decided to work together. Haymitch accepts her offer, and for most of the remaining time in the arena, they work well as a team. Little is revealed of their friendship or relationship in the Catching Fire chapter, but it’s clear from this encounter that Maysilee will be an important character in Collins’ Sunrise On The Reaping. And hopefully, the narrative will explore their friendship in greater detail.

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Haymitch Tried To Save Maysilee

They Split Up When Only Five Tributes Are Left

Woody Harrelson as Haymitch from Mockingjay in front of the arena from Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Custom image by Brennan Klein

This Hunger Games scene from Catching Fire makes it pretty obvious that Haymitch is looking for something throughout most of the games, constantly moving forward at a relentless pace. Maysilee asks him what he thinks he’ll find, and Haymitch states he believes the arena has to end somewhere. It isn’t until he stumbles upon a great cliff that he and Maysilee part ways as allies. Maysilee disagrees with his plan to stay put and decides it’s time to split up anyway—given there are only five tributes left. But only minutes after departing, Haymitch hears Maysilee scream and he runs to try and save her.

Haymitch was no longer under any obligation to help Maysilee now that their alliance was over, but he went anyway. Sadly, he doesn’t arrive in time, and watches as one of the Capital mutts kills her. However, Katniss explains that Haymitch stays with Maysilee until the end, holding her hand—reminding her of her time with Rue and how she was too late to save her as well. This scene will prove to be heartbreaking in the book, as Haymitch clearly cared for Maysilee enough to risk putting himself in danger—regardless of their friendship being doomed from the start.

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Haymitch Won His Games Using The Force Field

His Use Of The Force Field Had Never Been Done Before

Catching Fire Force Field

Haymitch found the end of the arena when he and Maysilee came across the huge cliff’s edge, and before he ran to save her from death, he discovered the arena was surrounded by a force field. After tossing a pebble over the side of the cliff, he was shocked to learn that the pebble had been thrown back. He begins to test this with heavier items and is incredibly amused to have learned one of the Capital’s secrets—something no other tribute had discovered before.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games movies and the cover of Sunrise on the Reaping

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By the end of the games, it comes down to Haymitch and one of the Career tributes. After a brutal fight in which both are fatally wounded, Haymitch stumbles back to the cliffs. Right before the Career sends her axe flying at Haymitch, he drops to the ground and her weapon goes over the cliff instead. It’s clear from the passage that Haymitch brought the Career tribute to the force field on purpose, knowing that her axe would eventually fly back up to kill her instead. This final scene marks Haymitch as the winner of the 50th Hunger Games.

2

The Capital Killed His Family And Girlfriend

His Use Of The Force Field Was Seen As Capital Mockery

The Hunger Games Capitol screengrab from the movies

The ending to Haymitch’s Hunger Games is incredibly tragic. Not only does he barely survive the arena, but when he finally returns home to District 12 he finds his mother, brother, and girlfriend have all been killed for his actions with the force field. The way in which Haymitch won his games made the Capital look stupid, and his use of the force field was seen as an act of rebellion—turning a Capital invention that was never meant to be discovered into a deadly weapon.

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The ending to the new Hunger Games prequel will possibly be the most heartbreaking of Collins’ series—as Haymitch wins the games against all odds only to find he’s lost everything he was fighting for. Given how similar Haymitch and Katniss’ wins are, it’s surprising Haymitch wasn’t killed for his rebellious act. However, the Capital’s punishment definitely served its purpose by warning others off of using the force field again. The Haymitch of before the games was likely already altered by the suffering witnessed in the games, but his return to District 12 is what will truly set him spiraling.

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Haymitch Fell Into An Alcohol Dependency To Deal With The Aftermath

His Family’s Death Was Incredibly Traumatic

Haymitch in The Hunger Games

Haymitch’s games explain a lot about his character first seen in the original Hunger Games trilogy—and his alcohol dependency is in large part due to the trauma he experienced in the games, and the guilt he may feel for his family and girlfriend’s death. Additionally, he has been forced to witness 25 years of deaths alone, as he was the only surviving victor of District 12 until Katniss and Peeta won. This is uncommon in other districts that have victors regularly—as victors usually take over the role of mentor for subsequent tributes.

Sunrise On The Reaping will be the perfect prequel to bring a richer depth to his character arc and help audiences and readers alike relate to his character on a deeper level.

This explains a lot about the Haymitch introduced in book one, and his desire to be drunk is likely to drown out the inevitable loss of another two tributes. Even through these horrible trials, Haymitch proves to be a valuable mentor for Katniss and Peeta, and his strength is commendable given all he’s been through. While Haymitch’s Hunger Games story isn’t necessarily a happy one, Sunrise On The Reaping will be the perfect prequel to bring a richer depth to his character arc and help audiences and readers alike relate to his character on a deeper level.

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The Hunger Games is a multi-movie franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The films are based on the young adult dystopian book series by author Suzanne Collins. The first film was released in 2012, followed by Catching Fire in 2013, Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014, and Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015. In 2023, the fifth film in the series was released, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Created by

Suzanne Collins

First Film

The Hunger Games

Cast

Jennifer Lawrence
, Josh Hutcherson
, Liam Hemsworth
, Elizabeth Banks
, Woody Harrelson
, Stanley Tucci
, Donald Sutherland
, Lenny Kravitz
, Willow Shields
, Phillip Seymour Hoffman
, Rachel Zegler
, Tom Blyth
, Viola Davis
, Peter Dinklage
, Hunter Schafer
, Jason Schwartzman

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