A New Kind of Studio-Tech Partnership
Meta is stepping deeper into Hollywood with a deal that converts The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping to 3D for its theatrical run and, eventually, for playback on the company's forthcoming VR glasses. The partnership with Lionsgate — announced November 2 — marks the first time Meta has collaborated directly with a studio on a 3D conversion of a feature film ahead of a theatrical release, a distinction both companies are leaning into heavily. [1][2]
The film opens in theaters on November 20. [1]
DNEG Does the Heavy Lifting
The conversion itself was handled by DNEG, the Oscar-winning visual effects and animation studio with a track record that includes Dune: Part One, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and Venom. [1] Crucially, the 3D work was completed before the theatrical release date — meaning audiences will be able to see the converted version in cinemas from opening weekend, not as an afterthought. [2]
Director Francis Lawrence was involved in shaping the 3D experience. "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. "Adapting the film for 3D gave us another creative tool to bring audiences even closer to his perspective." [2]
The film follows a young Haymitch Abernathy — the character later played by Woody Harrelson in the original series — through the 50th edition of the Hunger Games. [1] It is a direct sequel to 2023's The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and the sixth film overall in a franchise that has generated more than $3.3 billion at the global box office. [2]
The VR Glasses Play
The theatrical 3D release is only half the story. Meta's longer game is getting the film onto its new VR glasses — a lightweight device distinct from its heavier VR headset — when that hardware becomes available to consumers in spring 2027. [2] The glasses are priced at $1,299. [1]
Meta unveiled the device at its Connect event in September, where it also announced immersive versions of Avengers: Infinity War and Star Wars: A New Hope, along with 3D versions of The Avengers, Black Panther, and select Lionsgate titles. [1] The Sunrise on the Reaping deal extends that content strategy to include a film converted specifically for the platform before it even hits theaters.
Sarah Malkin, Meta's head of entertainment at Reality Labs, framed the collaboration in terms of what the hardware can deliver at home. "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," she said. [2]
Building a Content Ecosystem
The Lionsgate deal fits into a broader pattern of Meta assembling a content ecosystem around its VR hardware. The company previously worked with director James Cameron to make a 3D film he directed featuring Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour — exclusively available to rent or buy on Meta VR devices. [2] It also has an arrangement with Disney, which provides 3D films through Disney+. [2]
What sets the Lionsgate deal apart, according to both companies, is the integration of the 3D conversion into the theatrical pipeline rather than treating VR as a secondary aftermarket. Jim Packer, Lionsgate's chief revenue officer, called it "a compelling example of how technology can transform existing formats to create fresh, new experiences." [1] "We're thrilled to partner with Meta on this first-of-its-kind collaboration," Packer added. [2]
Franchise Stakes
The timing matters for Lionsgate. Sunrise on the Reaping arrives as the studio works to sustain momentum for one of its most valuable intellectual properties. Beyond the box office, the Hunger Games brand now encompasses a major stage production in London and a theme park attraction planned for Dubai. [2] Extending the film's life through a premium VR format — and doing so in partnership with a major tech platform — adds another distribution window to a franchise that has historically relied on theatrical and home video.
For Meta, the calculation is equally straightforward: hardware sells when there is compelling content to justify it. A globally recognized film franchise, converted to 3D and available on day one of a new device's consumer launch, is a more persuasive pitch than a library of niche experiences.
What to Watch
The immediate question is whether the 3D theatrical release performs well enough to validate the conversion investment — and whether audiences notice or care about Meta's behind-the-scenes role. Longer term, the spring 2027 launch of the VR glasses will be the real test: whether consumers are willing to pay $1,299 for a device whose entertainment pitch rests, in part, on experiences like this one. How many more studio deals Meta announces before that launch date will signal how seriously the industry is treating the platform as a viable distribution channel.
