There's 1 Young Hunger Games Victor I'm Way More Excited To See In Haymitch's Prequel Than Lucy Gray

Summary Suzanne Collins will release another Hunger Games prequel in 2025, and it will revolve around Haymitch Abernathy's Games.

Sunrise on the Reaping follows the 50th Hunger Games during the Second Quarter Quell.

Mags, the 11th Hunger Games winner, may appear in the prequel as she was a mentor during the 50th Games.

The Hunger Games franchise is alive and well because, after taking a 10-year hiatus, Suzanne Collins has returned to writing Hunger Games books, with the next one revolving around Haymitch Abernathy's Games, which should feature one notable victor other than Lucy Gray Baird. Sunrise on the Reaping follows in the footsteps of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the first Hunger Games prequel that follows a young President Snow and the 10th Hunger Games. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was published in 2020, with the movie adaptation premiering in 2023. Now, fans have another prequel to look forward to.

Sunrise on the Reaping is set during the 50th Hunger Games, aka the Second Quarter Quell. To celebrate the Quell, the Capitol instructs the districts to send double the number of tributes, meaning four from each district. Haymitch, who is 16 years old at the time, is one of the four chosen from District 12 and one of the 48 children who are forced to kill one another in an arena. While Haymitch is likely the protagonist and narrator of Sunrise on the Reaping, other characters can still return in the Hunger Games prequel.

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The Hunger Games' New Prequel Can Finally Introduce Young Mags At Haymitch's Games

Mags Won The 11th Hunger Games

Of course, many speculate whether Lucy Gray will be in Sunrise on the Reaping (the answer is almost definitely no). However, the more intriguing question revolves around Mags Flanagan, the 11th Hunger Games winner from District 4. Since she became a victor prior to the events of the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, it stands to reason that Mags will serve as one of the District 4 mentors in Sunrise on the Reaping. Given she isn't Haymitch's mentor, Mags probably won't be a significant character, but she can still be a part of the story, even if her appearance is brief.

Hunger Games Book Timeline Book Release Date Movie Release Date The Hunger Games 74th Hunger Games September 14, 2008 March 23, 2012 Catching Fire 75th Hunger Games (Third Quarter Quell) September 1, 2009 November 22, 2013 Mockingjay The Second Rebellion August 24, 2010 Part 1: November 21, 2014 Part 2: November 20, 2015 The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 10th Hunger Games May 19, 2020 November 17, 2023 Sunrise on the Reaping 50th Hunger Games (Second Quarter Quell) March 18, 2025 November 20, 2026

Catching Fire establishes that Haymitch and Mags have a bond of some sort, likely because they were both mentors for decades. So, at some point in time, Haymitch becomes acquainted with Mags. Perhaps they meet for the first time in the days leading up to the Second Quarter Quell, and fans can finally meet a younger version of Mags in Sunrise on the Reaping. Whatever the case, Mags is around when Haymitch wins the 50th Hunger Games.

How Old Mags Will Be In Sunrise On The Reaping (& How Long After Her Hunger Games)

Sunrise On The Reaping Depicts The 50th Hunger Games

Mags won the 11th Hunger Games when she was 16 (just like Haymitch). As a result, the District 4 victor should be around 55 years old during the 50th Hunger Games, or the Second Quarter Quell, as Haymitch's win against 47 other tributes transpires 39 years after Mags' Games. Mags will be well-trained at mentoring other tributes as she is likely one of the oldest living victors in Sunrise on the Reaping (since Lucy Gray Baird's whereabouts are unknown after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes).

If Mags is a character in Sunrise on the Reaping's story, her role will be very different from her part in Catching Fire.

Unlike her role in Catching Fire, Mags may be able to speak in the upcoming prequel (if she appears). It's unclear when Mags' stroke happens, which results in her mumbled speech, So, it's possible that she can speak perfectly fine in Sunrise on the Reaping. Only time will tell if Mags comes across Haymitch during the next Hunger Games prequel, though.

Related One Catching Fire Line Makes Me Desperate For This Hunger Games Story To Be Told Sunrise on the Reaping will explore the second Quarter Quell, but a throwaway line from Catching Fire makes me want a book about the first one more.

Mags Will Be Completely Different In Sunrise On The Reaping Than Catching Fire

Mags Is 24 Years Younger

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If Mags is a character in Sunrise on the Reaping's story, her role will be very different from her part in Catching Fire. She is 24 years younger during the Second Quarter Quell, and, as mentioned above, Mags might not have had her stroke yet, meaning she will be able to talk. Mags also hasn't met Finnick yet.

Mags and Finnick's relationship is a major part of her story in Catching Fire. However, Finnick wasn't born until the year after the 50th Hunger Games as he won the 65th Games at 14 years old. Perhaps another young tribute can take Finnick's place in Sunrise on the Reaping, but it won't be the same. Plus, Lynn Cohen (who died in 2020) plays Mags in the 2013 movie The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and a younger actress must portray the victor in the new Hunger Games film.