Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are officially returning to the iconic Hunger Games universe, marking a major moment for fans of the beloved franchise. According to Deadline, both stars will appear in Lionsgate’s highly anticipated prequel film, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, expanding Suzanne Collins’ ever-growing dystopian world.
Although the new story takes place 24 years before the original Hunger Games, the book includes a key moment where an older Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark listen to Haymitch Abernathy retell the events of his own Games. This narrative detail creates a natural and meaningful opportunity for Lawrence and Hutcherson to reprise their roles—offering nostalgia without resorting to forced cameos.
The prequel centers on a 16-year-old Haymitch, portrayed by Joseph Zada, who is thrust into the deadly 50th Hunger Games. This Second Quarter Quell is infamous for doubling the number of tributes, with 48 competitors battling for survival. The brutal arena becomes the defining experience that shapes Haymitch into the hardened mentor audiences meet decades later.
Hutcherson had long been asked about returning to the franchise but remained cautious. In an August interview with Brit + Co, he said, “That’d be cool. No, I know nothing in that world right now. Hunger Games is amazing, and I’ve loved it for many years and I will love it forever.” His comeback now aligns with a strong career resurgence, highlighted by the success of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which opened to an impressive $64 million.
Lawrence joins the prequel following her seventh Golden Globe nomination for Die My Love, reinforcing her status as one of Hollywood’s most accomplished performers.
Anticipation for Sunrise on the Reaping is already soaring. The film’s first trailer amassed 109 million views in just 24 hours, becoming Lionsgate’s second-biggest trailer debut of all time. The excitement reflects the book’s remarkable launch, which sold 1.5 million copies in its first week—the strongest opening in franchise history.
As fans prepare to revisit Panem, the return of its most iconic duo adds emotional depth and continuity to a new chapter in The Hunger Games legacy.