Summary

• Lucy Gray Baird likely won't be in the Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping.
• Sunrise on the Reaping focuses on the 50th Hunger Games, aka the year Haymitch Abernathy became a victor.
• Lucy Gray probably won't appear as her fate was left ambiguous in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

Suzanne Collins has secretly been working on a new the release of Sunrise on the Reaping, and now that it's confirmed, the hype surrounding the projects is extremely high.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set to premiere in theaters on November 20, 2026.

The Hunger Games franchise lives on with Sunrise on the Reaping, which chronicles Haymitch mentored Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark during the 74th event, he competed in the 50th Hunger Games at the age of 16. His backstory was teased in the original trilogy, but Collins never went too far in depth explaining what happened to Haymitch the year he won (until now). Since Lucy Gray was the most recent and only victor from District 12 during Haymitch's Games, it's understandable why some may think she could appear in Sunrise on the Reaping.

Lucy Gray (Probably) Won't Be In Sunrise On The Reaping

Sunrise On The Reaping Covers Haymitch's Hunger Games

Unfortunately, Rachel Zegler's Lucy Gray likely won't be in Sunrise on the Reaping. As far as the readers know, Lucy Gray was never involved with or mentioned during the 50th Hunger Games (aka the Second Quarter Quell). Her name was never even brought up during the original trilogy. Consequently, Lucy Gray was probably not around for Haymitch's win, and it wouldn't make much sense if she were to appear in Sunrise on the Reaping.

Meanwhile, Sunrise on the Reaping will revolve around the year that Haymitch won the 50th Hunger Games, meaning that it will take place 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

As the first District 12 victor, Lucy Gray would have been Haymitch's mentor, which surely would have been discussed in one of the first three books because it's an important role and a title that defined Haymitch's character. It would be strange if Lucy Gray was suddenly around during the Second Quarter Quell as it would be a retcon of the previous four novels. Suzanne Collins is a superb writer who doesn't often make mistakes, so, it seems extremely unlikely Lucy Gray will be in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (but not completely impossible).

When Lucy Gray's Hunger Games Took Place Compared To Haymitch's

Lucy Gray Won The 10th Hunger Games

As depicted in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Lucy Gray won the 10th Hunger Games. Meanwhile, Sunrise on the Reaping will revolve around the year that Haymitch won the 50th Hunger Games, meaning that it will take place 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. By taking into what happened to Lucy Gray at the end of the first prequel and the elongated gap between the two stories, it's quite improbable that Lucy Gray will be a character in Sunrise on the Reaping (the book and the movie adaptation).

What Happened To Lucy Gray After The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes?

Lucy Gray Disappeared (Or Died) At The End Of Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes

The most damning piece of evidence that proves Lucy Gray won't be a part of Sunrise on the Reaping is her disappearance at the end of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. As many will , Lucy Gray and Coriolanus Snow planned to run away from District 12 together. However, when Coriolanus accidentally revealed that he killed three people instead of two, Lucy Gray began to distrust him and tried to flee. Coriolanus hunted her in the woods and started shooting sporadically around him before returning to District 12 and Panem alone.

It's unclear what happened to Lucy Gray in the Hunger Games prequel's vague ending, but there are some options — Coriolanus shot and killed Lucy Gray; she was able to escape but succumbed to the elements (or perhaps a gunshot wound); or Lucy Gray sought refuge in District 13, where she lived out the rest of her days away from Panem. Whatever the case, Volumnia Gaul ensured that the 10th Hunger Games was erased from history and Lucy Gray was forgotten, meaning it wouldn't make sense if she returned in the The Hunger Games book and movie adaptation (even if she survived).