The pair’s last franchise appearance was in 2015’s ‘Mockingjay: Part 2,’ the final installment of the original film series.

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson to reprise Hunger Games roles for Sunrise on the Reaping prequel

The pair's last franchise appearance was in 2015's 'Mockingjay: Part 2,' the final installment of the original film series.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

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on December 11, 2025 2:32 p.m. ET

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Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence in 2015's 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2'. Credit:

Murray Close/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett

Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence are heading back to Panem.

The two stars will reprise their roles as Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen for the latest big-screen adaptation from Suzanne Collins' hit *Hunger Games* book franchise, *Sunrise on the Reaping*.

The appearance will mark the first time either star has returned to the saga since they starred together in 2015's *Mockingjay - Part 2*, the climactic installment of the original film series that ended with their characters married and with children.

*Sunrise on the Reaping* is a prequel set 24 years before the events of *The Hunger Games*, revisiting the world of Panem on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell — one of the deadliest games in Panem's history.

The new movie will chronicle the horrific origin story of Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada), the beloved, curmudgeonly alcoholic who served as a reluctant mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the franchise's first four films.

Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, and Woody Harrelson in 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'.

Katniss and Peeta would not have been alive during this time, but fans have speculated that they will may pop up in the prequel in a flash-forward.

Lionsgate did not respond to a request for comment when ** reached out.**

Hutcherson and Lawrence's reported appearances give hope to fans looking for a cameo from Woody Harrelson, who played Haymitch as an adult in the original *Hunger Games* movies, and Elizabeth Banks, whose character Effie Trinket will also show up in the new film in her younger years.

'Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' trailer teases first look at Panem's most brutal challenge, Haymitch's origin story

Josh Hutcherson says he only experienced 'failure, rejection' after 'The Hunger Games'

Along with a plethora of familiar names from the original franchise, *Sunrise on the Reaping* will introduce a host of new characters, such as Haymitch's love interest, Lenore Dove (Whitney Peak), a Covey and descendant of none other than *The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes*’ Lucy Gray Baird. The star-studded cast also includes Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Edvin Ryding, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Billy Porter, and Iris Apatow. Ralph Fiennes will step into the role of President Snow.

Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy in 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping'.

Murray Close/Lionsgate

Francis Lawrence — who helmed four of the five *Hunger Games* movies, including* Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, *about a teenage Snow — will direct the Lionsgate movie from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray. It will be the sixth *Hunger Games* film adaptation.

*The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping* lands in theaters on Nov. 20, 2026. **

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