Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson to Reprise Their Roles on “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping”

After more than a decade away from Panem, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are officially set to reprise their iconic roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Lionsgate’s latest film in the global dystopian franchise. The announcement — confirmed by multiple outlets — marks the pair’s first on-screen return since Mockingjay – Part 2 in 2015, and has ignited excitement among fans of the franchise’s blockbuster run.

The film, based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel of the same name, functions as both a prequel and a narrative bridge: set 24 years before the original series, it focuses on the 50th Hunger Games (the Second Quarter Quell) and the early life of Haymitch Abernathy, played in the new movie by Joseph Zada. Although Katniss and Peeta weren’t active players in that timeline, sources suggest their appearances will come via a flash-forward sequence, tying the new story to the beloved originals.

Director Francis Lawrence, who has overseen four prior installments of The Hunger Games, returns to helm the project from a screenplay by Billy Ray, with producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson once again shepherding the franchise. The ensemble cast also includes Ralph Fiennes as a younger President Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier and Whitney Peak in a new lead role.

While Lionsgate has kept specific dialogue under wraps, reports indicate that both Lawrence and Hutcherson are enthusiastic about revisiting their characters in the context of this broader saga — a return that serves as both a nod to longtime fans and a dramatic touchpoint for the franchise’s evolving mythology.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled to hit theaters on November 20, 2026.