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Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are set to return to the big screen as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, respectively, in the upcoming film “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” as confirmed by Lionsgate on Wednesday. This exciting news marks their return to the franchise after their last appearance in 2015’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.”
Details surrounding their roles in the film remain under wraps, but it is expected that Lawrence and Hutcherson will feature in a flash-forward sequence within the prequel, which is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 20, 2026.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” is set 24 years before the original saga, on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games. The narrative focuses on a young Haymitch Abernathy, who becomes the mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the future. This film introduces Joseph Zada as the teenage Haymitch, a character audiences first came to know through Woody Harrelson’s portrayal in the initial four movies.
The pair will likely appear in a flash-forward in the prequel film, which hits theaters Nov. 20, 2026, though the exact details of their roles have not been released.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” takes place on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, 24 years before the events in “The Hunger Games.” The film centers on a young Haymitch Abernathy, who later becomes mentor to Katniss and Peeta. Joseph Zada plays the teenage Haymitch, who was played by Woody Harrelson in the first four movies.
Francis Lawrence is returning to the franchise to direct the movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel. He has directed all but the first film in the series.
The all-star cast is made up of big names. Ralph Fiennes is cast as President Snow, previously played by Donald Sutherland in the original trilogy and Tom Blyth in the prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes”; Jesse Plemons plays Plutarch Heavensbee, previously played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman; Elle Fanning is Effie Trinket, played in the original trilogy by Elizabeth Banks; and Kieran Culkin is television host Caesar Flickerman, previously played by Stanley Tucci. Glenn Close, Billy Porter, Maya Hawke, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Mckenna Grace have also been announced as cast members.
The franchise’s first five movies have surpassed $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office.
Lawrence earned a Golden Globe nomination Monday for “Die My Love.” Hutcherson currently stars in “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” which opened to $64 million over the weekend.
