The Smashing Pumpkins are back with new music, and their latest release takes them into the world of The Hunger Games. The alt-rock icons have released “Black Stars,” an original song written for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album), bringing their signature sound to the upcoming film’s soundtrack. The track marks a major reunion for the band, who teamed up with acclaimed producer Butch Vig for the first time since their landmark 1993 album Siamese Dream. Known for helping shape some of the most defining alternative rock sounds of the ’90s, Vig’s return makes “Black Stars” an especially exciting release for longtime fans.
Watch The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Black Stars”
The track marks a major reunion for the band, who teamed up with acclaimed producer Butch Vig for the first time since their landmark 1993 album Siamese Dream. Known for helping shape some of the most defining alternative rock sounds of the ’90s, Vig’s return makes “Black Stars” an especially exciting release for longtime fans. “Black Stars” leans into the darker, atmospheric side of The Smashing Pumpkins, making it a fitting addition to a story built around power, survival, and the darker corners of human nature. The band’s alternative rock roots give the song a sense of weight and tension that feels right at home in the world of Panem. Rather than feeling like a separate soundtrack moment, the track serves as an original contribution inspired by the film’s story and characters.
The collaboration also comes as The Smashing Pumpkins continue their “The Rats in a Cage Tour,” which is bringing the band to arenas across North America. “Black Stars” has already become part of the tour’s setlist, giving fans the opportunity to hear the new material live. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album) arrives November 13 via MCA, with the film hitting theaters everywhere on November 20, 2026. Executive produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Dave Cobb, the 29-track collection brings together artists from across genres, each contributing music inspired by the characters and stories of Panem. “Black Stars” appears as track 15, alongside a lineup of previously unreleased songs created specifically for the project.
For The Smashing Pumpkins, “Black Stars” is both a return to a familiar creative partnership and another opportunity to explore the darker, more cinematic side of their sound. With the release of the song, the band adds a new chapter to its ongoing legacy while helping set the tone for one of the year’s most anticipated film soundtracks.
Photo Credit: Alyssa Fried
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