Jennifer Lawrence & Josh Hutcherson Will Return to ‘The Hunger Games’ in ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’

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Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, known for their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games movies, are returning for the new prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. According to The Hollywood Reporter, both actors have officially signed on for the film, which is scheduled for release in 2026. While it’s likely they’ll appear in brief cameos, the extent of their roles is still unknown.

Based on the prequel novel of the same name, Sunrise on the Reaping sees Francis Lawrence return as director, having directed all the Hunger Games films except the very first one. Billy Ray, who wrote the screenplay for the original 2012 film – and only that one – is also writing this new installment. The movie stars Joseph Zada, Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons, Mckenna Grace, Glenn Close, Ben Wang, Elle Fanning, and Kieran Culkin, among a talented ensemble cast. Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled for release in theaters on November 20, 2026.

After achieving huge fame in the 2010s, particularly through her role as Katniss, Jennifer Lawrence scaled back her work in the 2020s, appearing in only a few films like Don’t Look Up, Causeway, and No Hard Feelings. In 2025, she returned to prominence with the gripping drama Die My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay. The film is receiving rave reviews and is considered one of Lawrence’s strongest performances to date, with many predicting she’ll be a contender for an Oscar – she’s already received a Golden Globe nomination for the role.

Josh Hutcherson is enjoying a career comeback after focusing on smaller films for a while. He starred in the hit horror movie Five Nights at Freddy’s in 2023 and returned for the sequel. He also acted alongside Jason Statham in the action film The Beekeeper, and appeared in the HBO comedy I Love LA in 2025. However, his latest project, Sunrise on the Reaping, is generating the most excitement so far.

Do Peeta & Katniss Appear in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Novel?


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Be warned, this contains spoilers for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Peeta and Katniss, the main characters from The Hunger Games series, weren’t in the 2023 prequel The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes because that story happened long before they were born. However, Sunrise on the Reaping is also a prequel, and Peeta and Katniss will be appearing in the movie adaptation of that story.

Thankfully, bringing Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson back isn’t just a nod to fans. Both characters actually appear in Suzanne Collins’ original 2025 novel. While they aren’t central to the main story, they do appear in the book’s epilogue, interacting with Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada, taking over from Woody Harrelson). It’s currently unknown if Lawrence and Hutcherson will have more than brief appearances, but considering the franchise’s popularity, director Francis Lawrence will likely find a way to satisfy fans.

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2025-12-11 18:32