NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Inspired by an 18th century Scottish philosopher and the modern scourge of misinformation, is returning to the ravaged, post-apocalyptic land of Panem for a new 鈥淭he Hunger Games鈥� novel.
Scholastic announced Thursday that 鈥淪unrise on the Reaping,鈥� the fifth volume of Collins' blockbuster dystopian series, will be published March 18, 2025. The new book begins with the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, set 24 years before the original 鈥淗unger Games鈥� novel, which came out in 2008, and 40 years after Collins' most recent book,
Lionsgate, which has released film adaptations of all four previous 鈥淗unger Games鈥� books, announced later on Thursday that 鈥淪unrise on the Reaping鈥� will open in theaters on Nov. 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence, who has worked on all but the first 鈥淗unger Games鈥� movie, will return as director.
The first four 鈥淗unger Games鈥� books have sold more than 100 million copies and been translated into dozens of languages. Collins had seemingly ended the series after the 2010 publication of 鈥淢ockingjay,鈥� writing in 2015 that it was 鈥渢ime to move on to other lands.鈥� But four years later, she stunned readers and the publishing world she was working on what became 鈥淭he Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,鈥� and set 64 years before the first book.
Collins has drawn upon Greek mythology and the Roman gladiator games for her earlier 鈥淗unger Games鈥� books. But for the upcoming novel, she cites the
鈥淲ith 鈥楽unrise on the Reaping,鈥� I was inspired by David Hume鈥檚 idea of implicit submission and, in his words, 鈥榯he easiness with which the many are governed by the few,'" Collins said in a statement. "The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question 鈥楻eal or not real?鈥� seems more pressing to me every day.鈥�
are a multibillion dollar franchise for Lionsgate. portrayed heroine Katniss Everdeen in the film versions of 鈥淭he Hunger Games,鈥� 鈥淐atching Fire鈥� and 鈥淢ockingjay," the last of which came out in two installments. Other featured actors have included Philip Seymour Hoffman, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland.
鈥淪uzanne Collins is a master storyteller and our creative north star,鈥� Lionsgate chair Adam Fogelson said in a statement. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 be more fortunate than to be guided and trusted by a collaborator whose talent and imagination are so consistently brilliant."
The starring came out last year. This fall, a 鈥淗unger Games鈥� stage production is scheduled to debut in London.
Hillel Italie, The Associated Press
