Lionsgate Inks Deal With Meta to Bring New ‘Hunger Games’ Movie to VR Glasses

Lionsgate and Meta have unveiled a deal to bring a 3D-converted The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping to Mark Zuckerberg’s VR glasses after a theatrical run.

The 3D conversion by DNEG, the Oscar-winning visual effects and animation studio, has already been done ahead of the Sunrise on the Reaping’s theatrical release date on Nov. 20. Meta partnered on the 3D conversion so the movie could eventually play on its VR glasses, distinct from its heavier VR headset, when they become available to consumers in spring 2027.

Screening the latest Hunger Games movie on Meta VR glasses is as director Francis Lawrence intended. “From the beginning, we wanted The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping to feel visceral and immersive, pulling audiences deep into Haymitch’s experience,” he 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.”

Sunrise on the Reaping is a direct sequel to 2023’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and both films serve as prequels to Lionsgate’s main Hunger Games movie series that was released from 2012 to 2015. In all, there have been six movies in the franchise.

“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,” Jim Packer, chief revenue officer at the major studio, added in his own statement.

Meta earlier worked with director James Cameron to make a 3D film he directed with Billie Eilish, Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, exclusively available to rent or buy on the Meta VR devices, including the lightweight VR glasses to launch next year. And Meta is also on board with Disney, which provides 3D films via Disney+. The latest deal with Lionsgate partners to convert a feature film into 3D for a theatrical release before play on its VR glasses.

“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,” Sarah Malkin, head of entertainment for Meta’s Reality Labs, which houses its VR headsets, said in a statement.

Based on the bookseries by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games franchise has generated over $3.3 billion at the global box office across five films and a major stage production in London and a theme park attraction in Dubai is also planned.