Lionsgate‘s “Hunger Games” prequel “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” will be available in 3D when it opens in theaters on November 20. That on its own isn’t strictly news, but the 3D conversion on the film is coming from a new and unlikely place: Facebook parent company Meta.
Meta is partnering with Lionsgate to convert “Sunrise on the Reaping” to 3D, with director Francis Lawrence working to adapt the film for 3D viewing. Meta worked with VFX giant DNEG and their internal 3D conversion branch Stereo. This is the first time Meta has partnered with a Hollywood film studio on such an undertaking, and it also won’t be the last Lionsgate movie that will get the 3D treatment down the road (other titles will be announced at a later date).
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In addition to “Sunrise on the Reaping” being in 3D in theaters, the movie will eventually be available on Meta VR Glasses when those VR devices hit the shelves in spring 2027. IndieWire got to demo those recently, and they’re designed to be lighter and less obtrusive than other VR headsets that can be tougher on the eyes while not sacrificing any of the immersive qualities (they feel and look like slightly larger sunglasses that you might get at the dentist rather than a bulky, wraparound headset that weighs on your face).
The demo we saw included a snippet of the Billie Eilish concert doc co-directed by James Cameron, as well as a clip from “Avengers: Endgame” that added an extra expanded screen effect to fill your line of sight. It’s clear that Meta wants to expand into the entertainment space and compete with the likes of YouTube and Google and other tech giants, and they need premium content like a new “Hunger Games” movie in order to do that.
“From the beginning, we wanted ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ to feel visceral and immersive, pulling audiences deep into Haymitch’s experience,” Lawrence said in a statement. “Adapting the film for 3D gave us another creative tool to bring audiences even closer to his perspective. I’m excited for people to see the film on the big screen and ultimately experience it in an entirely new way on Meta’s VR glasses.”
“As we continue to explore new ways for audiences to experience ‘The Hunger Games,’ we’re thrilled to partner with Meta on this first-of-its-kind collaboration,” said Jim Packer, Chief Revenue Officer, Lionsgate. “Francis Lawrence has created an incredible 3D experience for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,’ and we’re excited for audiences to experience it in theaters and then on Meta VR Glasses. This is a compelling example of how technology can transform existing formats to create fresh, new experiences.”
“With our upcoming VR Glasses, we’re proud to create premium entertainment the way it’s meant to be felt, and Lionsgate is an ideal partner because of the artistic strength and global appeal of its franchises,” said Sarah Malkin, Head of Entertainment for Meta’s Reality Labs. “’The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is exactly the kind of cinematic experience that will be phenomenal in theaters, and also showcases what this technology makes possible at home. We’re delighted to work with Lionsgate and Francis Lawrence to bring the film in 3D to audiences around the world.”
“Sunrise on the Reaping” is the sixth “Hunger Games” film and the second prequel after “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” from 2023, which brought in $363 million at the worldwide box office. This film stars Joseph Zada as a teenage Haymitch Abernathy, who is the District 12 character portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original series of films. The film also stars McKenna Grace, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Ben Wang.