Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss confirmed to return in 'Hunger Games' prequel
What's the story
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will reprise their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The film is set to release on November 20, 2026. Lawrence and Hutcherson are likely to appear in a flash-forward, as per The Hollywood Reporter. The story takes place 24 years before the events of the original trilogy, offering a deeper exploration of the Hunger Games universe.
Film information
'Sunrise on the Reaping' cast and plot details revealed
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be directed by Francis Lawrence, who helmed the second, third, and fourth films in the franchise. The confirmed cast includes Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, and Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket.
Plot focus
'Sunrise on the Reaping' explores Haymitch Abernathy's youth
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will explore the early life of Haymitch Abernathy, a character from the original trilogy. The story will take place in Panem on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, 24 years before The Hunger Games. This film is a sequel to 2023's The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which starred Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth.
Previous roles
Lawrence and Hutcherson's last appearance in 'Hunger Games' franchise
Lawrence and Hutcherson's last appearance in the Hunger Games franchise was in 2015's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. In that film, their characters were married with children. Meanwhile, Lawrence recently received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance in Die My Love.