Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are returning to “The Hunger Games” franchise.
The InSneider (via THR) has confirmed both actors will reportedly appear in the upcoming prequel movie “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” which opens in cinemas next November.
Lawrence will reprise her role as Katniss Everdeen, while Hutcherson will return as Peeta Mellark with the pair likely appearing in scenes set after the original trilogy – either a flashforward at the end or some sort of framing device.
The majority of the film will be set nearly a quarter-century before the original trilogy – the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games/Second Quarter Quell.
The filming begins with the young Plutarch Heavensbee (Jesse Plemons) in District 12, capturing the reaping of the Tributes there when he meets a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada), a District 12 tribute who competes in the 50th Hunger Games.
Haymitch will one day go on to mentor Katniss Everdeen as she prepares for the 74th Hunger Games.
Other cast members includes Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan, Billy Porter as Magno Stift, Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, and Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow.
Francis Lawrence directs from a screenplay by Billy Ray, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson are producers. “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” opens in cinemas November 20th 2026.
