Album: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album)
Songwriter: Billy Corgan
Producer: Butch Vig
Music Video Director: Gus Black
Music Video Producer: Lukas Lennon
A Historic Reunion: Black Stars marks the first collaboration between The Smashing Pumpkins and producer Butch Vig since Siamese Dream in 1993, more than three decades earlier.
Soundtrack Release: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album) is scheduled for November 13, 2026, one week before the film’s theatrical release on November 20.
Recording Locations: The song was recorded at Chaplin Studios in Los Angeles, with additional sessions taking place in Chicago.
Music Video Setting: The performance video places Billy Corgan and his bandmates inside a warehouse, emphasizing the musicians and their performance.
Band Lineup: The video features Billy Corgan, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, and guitarist Kiki Wong.

Black Stars Brings the Band Together

Released on October 16, 2026, “Black Stars” is a music video by The Smashing Pumpkins, directed by Gus Black. The video places Billy Corgan, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, and guitarist Kiki Wong in an industrial warehouse setting, emphasizing the band’s performance and the song’s moody atmosphere. Its restrained presentation suits the track’s melodic alternative rock sound, giving the musicians a prominent role in the visual storytelling.

The Smashing Pumpkins Enter The Hunger Games

_{The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping November 20, 2026}

“Black Stars” was recorded for the soundtrack to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel. The story follows a young Haymitch Abernathy during the 50th Hunger Games, exploring the Capitol’s brutality and the personal consequences of its annual competition.

The song combines atmospheric guitar textures, melodic vocals, and a measured rock arrangement. Its melancholy tone fits the darker themes of the Hunger Games universe. The soundtrack album is scheduled for November 13, 2026, ahead of the film’s November 20 theatrical release.

Reuniting the Makers of Siamese Dream

“Black Stars” reunites The Smashing Pumpkins with producer Butch Vig for their first collaboration since 1993’s Siamese Dream, one of the defining alternative rock albums of the decade. Vig helped shape the band’s early sound, particularly its dense layers of guitar and carefully arranged melodies.

The song originated during Billy Corgan’s work on a solo album. After the band received an invitation to contribute to The Hunger Games, Corgan enlisted Vig to help select and develop the track. Recording took place at Chaplin Studios in Los Angeles, with additional sessions in Chicago. The reunion marks a significant moment in the band’s recording history.