(Image courtesy of Lionsgate)
"The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping," the second prequel in "The Hunger Games" franchise, has held its world premiere, and attending critics and members of the media quickly took to social media to share their first reactions.
Francis Lawrence, who directed the final three films in the original saga as well as the first prequel, "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," returns to helm the movie. Billy Ray, a co-writer on the first "Hunger Games," is also back to pen the screenplay. The story follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy as he competes in the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. The first wave of reactions has been overwhelmingly positive, with some critics already calling it the best film in the franchise.
Critics shared their reactions online:
(Image courtesy of Lionsgate)
The ensemble cast includes Ben Wang, Elle Fanning, Whitney Peak, Maya Hawke, Billy Porter, Lili Taylor, Glenn Close and Mckenna Grace. Ralph Fiennes plays a middle-aged President Snow, while Kieran Culkin portrays a younger Caesar Flickerman, host of the Hunger Games. Newcomer Joseph Zada stars as the teenage Haymitch Abernathy, with Jesse Plemons playing a younger Plutarch Heavensbee, the future Head Gamemaker portrayed by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the original films.
Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence will also return as Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen, respectively, while Woody Harrelson is confirmed to reprise his role as the older Haymitch.