Sunrise at Harvest is the next prequel from author Suzanne Collins set in the world of Hunger Gamesand the story is said to follow a younger version of Haymitch Abernathy during his time as a tribute. Very little is known about the history of Sunrise at Harvestand fans of the franchise began to fantasize wildly about what this narrative could be. There are countless theories floating around the internet.and some of them are much more believable than others.
The official synopsis of Harvest Sunrise confirms both that Haymitch will be the protagonist of the story, and that most of the narrative will take place during the 50th annual Hunger Games competition. However, given the enormous success of Hunger Games series and its recent prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesit’s unlikely that Collins would return to this universe just to retell Katniss’ story with another character. There is likely to be a twist that breaks the Hunger Games cinematic tradition and TikTok user @emhahee has a plausible theory.
This brilliant theory could reveal the true meaning of the sunrise in the title of The Reaping
A TikTok user has a clever book idea
This TikTok suggests that Sunrise at Harvest It won’t simply happen during Haymitch’s time in the Hunger Games, but rather in the years afterward, as he reflects on his experiences and learns to overcome the trauma he faced. This would be a fascinating way to subvert expectations and give readers a completely new story in this universe; but also stays true to the character’s journey and takes him to the destination he is destined for in the original trilogy. If this theory is correct, Sunrise at Harvest could have some big time jumps.
The theory arises as a result of Suzanne Collins’ use of time jumps in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakeswhich allowed him to tell a more comprehensive narrative that spanned several years and moved away from the typical Hunger Games formula. The author’s decision to stay away from Katniss’ story in Sunrise at Harvest it also suggests that she’s more interested in exploring Haymitch’s character from a more objective point of view, and flash-forwards would be a whole new way to handle that.
This theory also helps explain the story’s title: Sunrise at Harvest could refer to the multiple sunrises that Haymitch experiences as Harvest Day rolls around each year, moving forward in time to follow his character as the event brings back memories of his time in the arena. This kind of non-linear storytelling would be really interesting to see happening on the page and would certainly give this book a unique selling point to stand out from the rest.
Sunrise On The Reaping Title Theory Fits Haymitch’s Hunger Games Story
The title may be referring to multiple harvests
Haymitch’s character in Hunger Games The trilogy is among the most interesting and popular among the public. He is a mentor and a trusted friend to Katnissand much of his determination to destroy President Snow’s corrupt system comes from the trauma he personally experienced in the games. He’s clearly still affected by his own time in the arena, and Sunrise at Harvest is the perfect opportunity to explore why.
If this theory is true, and the prequel follows Haymitch through several different Harvests following his own, it would be a perfect way to show how permanently he has been changed by his own experiences. It would be a very reflective and moving story This explains why his character is so cynical and misanthropic in Hunger Games trilogy, giving credence to his motivations against President Snow. Fans of the franchise have already started speculating who could play Haymitch in the Sunrise at Harvest movie, but if there are a lot of time jumps, it can be even more difficult.
Haymitch’s story would be even more poignant with the reveal of this title
The Twist would add a new dimension to his character
Haymitch has always been a likable character in the Hunger Games trilogy, despite his initial coldness towards Katniss and Peeta – but Sunrise at Harvest has the opportunity to make your story even more exciting and moving. The existing books have done a great job of exploring just how scary and intense the Hunger Games can be at the moment, but there is little explanation about the long-term effects of such a traumatic experience. Haymitch’s character is the only obvious example of this, and this prequel should take that into consideration and make him the main focus of the story.
So far, all the books in this franchise adopted completely different styles and even switched to different genres: The Hunger Games is an action-packed adventure, Catching fire is more of a political thriller, and Thrush leans heavily into the dystopian elements of the story. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a more character-driven prequel with romance aspects, which sets it apart even further. Therefore, Sunrise at Harvest It needs its own unique style to maintain that trend, and a non-linear psychological drama seems like the perfect way to go.
This theory opens the door to Hunger Games cameos in the prequel
There would be room for the original cast to return
Although it is not necessary to Sunrise at Harvest including any preexisting characters (except Haymitch) could certainly improve the story if Collins decides to bring back some familiar faces. This theory leans into that possibility, suggesting that the time jumps could continue until the 74th Hunger Games, where Haymitch meets Katniss and Peeta for the first time. This would create a full circle narrative which fills in all the gaps in the original trilogy, opening the door for some of the original cast to appear again.
There are many theories about Sunrise at Harvestbut this one is definitely among the most exciting. Not only would it offer a completely new perspective on Haymitch’s story, but it could also be the perfect opportunity to reward longtime fans of the franchise with some exciting cameos and returning cast members. It’s much smarter and more effective than an unnecessary sequel, as it gives a new perspective on events that have already been discussed, while also keeping the door open for new revelations along the way.
The Hunger Games: Harvest Sunrise
- Release date
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November 20, 2026